SpaceX has updated the availability date for its Starlink satellite Internet service in Malaysia from just “2023” to “Q2 2023”. This can be seen inside the service’s coverage map on its official website.
Not only that, the Q2 2023 rollout date has also been mentioned on the pre-order page when you input a location in Malaysia. Frankly, we have no idea when exactly SpaceX updated the availability date for Malaysia.
In fact, we only stumbled upon it when we browse through Starlink’s website again after learning that the Communications and Digital Minister, Fahmi Fadzil has recently met up with representatives from SpaceX’s division. The meeting was revealed through a set of images on Fahmi’s official Facebook page earlier this evening.
Based on our observation of SpaceX’s previous engagement with the Malaysian government, we believe that the person shown in the images was Rebecca Hunter, the company’s Senior Manager for Government Affairs. However, the Facebook post did not mention the topics that were discussed during the meeting aside from Fahmi noting that Internet services were one of his main focuses at the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD).
Back in May 2022, SpaceX announced that Starlink was already available in 32 countries. We then noticed that the “Starting in 2023” label has appeared on Malaysia inside its coverage map as well as the pre-order form.
Despite the update, we still think you need to manage your expectation though as neither SpaceX nor Starlink names have appeared on the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission’s Individual Licences Register so far. Not only that, Starlink also carries a rather hefty price tag to it.
As noted before, the standard Starlink kit already costs USD599 (~RM2,612) while the High-Performance kit which is more resistant to the elements and able to see more satellites goes for USD2,500 (~RM10,898). With a download speed of between 20Mbps to 100Mbps for the standard plan, you also have to pay USD110 (~RM480) per month as a subscription fee.
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