CelcomDigi Berhad (CelcomDigi) and SES, a prominent content connectivity satellite solutions provider, have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at investigating satellite connectivity options using SES’s Medium-Earth-Orbit (MEO) and Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) satellites for businesses and communities in Malaysia.
Within the framework of this MoU, CelcomDigi, together with its subsidiaries, will join forces with SES to explore the creation of a local gateway for Satellite Communication (SatCom) services in Malaysia. The collaboration envisions leveraging SES’s GEO and MEO satellites alongside CelcomDigi’s existing infrastructure, including the facilities operated by Celcom Timur Sdn Bhd, to offer enterprise-grade satellite connectivity services characterized by high throughput, low latency, and a dedicated service level agreement (SLA).
SES, boasting ownership and operation of a fleet of 70 satellites, with 26 dedicated to MEO, facilitates high-performance connectivity services globally by situating MEO satellites at an altitude of 8,000 km above Earth. CelcomDigi aims to explore the integration of connectivity services like 4G, 5G, SDWAN, and managed Wi-Fi through SES’s advanced satellite technology.
The MoU signing ceremony took place at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, witnessed by notable figures including Datuk Idham Nawawi, CEO of CelcomDigi; Nadine Allen, Global Head of Enterprise & Cloud at SES; Tan Sri Mohamad Salim bin Fateh Din, Chairman of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC); and YM Tengku Dato’ Sri Azmil Zahruddin, Chair of the Board at CelcomDigi.
Datuk Idham Nawawi expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “Our partnership with SES, starting with our infrastructure in Malaysia, opens up numerous possibilities to enhance our 4G LTE and 5G connectivity services for businesses and communities, providing more Malaysians with digital opportunities in today’s digital economy. We are committed to delivering reliable services and a consistent experience to our customers across the country, and we are proud to join forces with SES, a leading content connectivity satellite solutions provider, to deploy this technology nationwide.”
Nadine Allen, Global Head of Enterprise & Cloud at SES, also commented on the collaboration, saying, “We are pleased to sign this MoU with CelcomDigi to explore joint opportunities for high-speed connectivity and reliable network access via our unparalleled reach and proven MEO and GEO technology. In this digital era, connectivity is of utmost importance, and we will work closely together to connect enterprises and communities, even in the most remote parts of Malaysia.”