Starlink, the satellite broadband service under SpaceX, is now officially available in Malaysia, offering high-speed and low-latency internet for homes and enterprises. Malaysians can now place orders for the Starlink satellite broadband kit, which provides download speeds of around 100Mbps.
The satellite broadband plan costs RM220 per month without a contract, but customers will need to purchase the hardware separately. To encourage potential users to try the service, Starlink offers a 30-day trial period with the option of a full refund if the hardware is returned.
In Malaysia, Starlink offers two hardware options: the Standard Equipment and the High-Performance option. The Standard Equipment costs RM2,300, while the High-Performance option is priced at RM11,613. The Standard kit is recommended for residential users and everyday applications, while the High-Performance kit is designed for power users and enterprise applications, offering improved weather resistance and 3x speeds at temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.
Both kits include a motorized self-orienting satellite dish, and the Starlink WiFi router supports up to 802.11ac WiFi 5 with dual-band 3×3 MIMO. The High-Performance kit comes with a larger dish size of 575mm x 511mm and has a higher average power usage of 110-150W, compared to the standard kit’s 513mm x 303mm dish with an average power usage of 50-75W.
According to Starlink’s specifications, users can expect download speeds of 25-100Mbps and upload speeds of 5-10Mbps for the standard fixed plans. The expected latency is 25-60ms, which is comparable to a 4G connection. It’s important to note that satellite broadband is a finite resource, and Starlink has its own Fair Usage Policy in place.
Interested customers can place their orders on Starlink’s website, and the kit will be shipped within one to two weeks. Malaysia is now the 60th country worldwide to receive Starlink services. It is the second country in ASEAN, after the Philippines, to offer Starlink to consumers.
Approval for Starlink’s operation in Malaysia was granted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on July 17, 2023, following a teleconference meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The Malaysian government has already ordered 40 Starlink broadband kits for schools and universities, including UiTM.
Starlink Malaysia operates as a 100 percent foreign-owned entity, as the 49 percent foreign equity threshold imposed on NFP(I) and NSP(I) license holders has been waived, considering the value and benefits that Starlink Malaysia brings to the country.
With Starlink’s availability in Malaysia, residents and businesses can now enjoy high-speed, low-latency internet access, bridging the digital divide and opening up new opportunities for communication and connectivity across the nation.
