Satellite broadband successfully deployed at village where students got injured in bridge collapse

Back in November 2020, several students trying to get a good mobile signal were injured after the suspension bridge they are on had collapsed in Kampung Gusi in Ranau, Sabah. To provide an immediate solution, Common Tower Technologies Sdn Bhd (CTT) and MEASAT Global Berhad have successfully deployed a ConnectMe Now satellite service to provide high-speed WiFi hotspot access for the community.

Following the bridge collapse incident, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had approached CTT to provide a broadband connection through a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) service. CTT is a wholly-owned company by Warisan Harta Sabah Sdn Bhd, which is an investment arm of the Sabah state government.

The deployment at Kampung Gusi is part of CTT’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts and it will provide connectivity for 280 villagers. The ConnectMe Now service uses High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology that can deliver download speeds of up to 30Mbps with 100% coverage in Malaysia. In locations without a power source, a solar-powered solution can be deployed and it has batteries to power up the wireless access points 24/7. The local community can gain access buy purchasing data packages according to their need.

CTT General Manager Law Chun Ming said “In urban areas, networks are being pushed to their limit as more people stay home to work and learn remotely. What more for rural areas like Kampung Gusi Ranau, where infrastructure is a challenge and it would take time/effort to deploy terrestrial communications for connectivity.” He added “CONNECTme NOW by MEASAT was the ideal solution to provide quick upgrades to improve Internet communication and reliability, so the students and the community of Kampung Gusi Ranau have the connectivity they need to help navigate the challenges especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.”

ConnectMe Now’s satellite-powered WiFi hotspot service has been deployed at over 1,000 locations in rural Malaysia. MEASAT has invested RM1.2 billion to built its next generation satellite, MEASAT-3d which will provide faster broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps.

Related reading