en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced on July 16, 2026, the official opening of project registration for the "MADANI Submarine Cable Connection Plan" (Sambungan Kabel Dasar Laut MADANI, abbreviated as SALAM), inviting eligible licensees to submit letters of intent and draft universal service plans. This project is a national-level digital infrastructure initiative prioritized in the Malaysian government's 2026 budget, aiming to enhance the resilience and reliability of domestic network connectivity by constructing a new submarine cable system connecting Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is the regulatory body for the country's communications and multimedia industry, responsible for driving the construction and development of national communications infrastructure. According to the MCMC announcement, the SALAM project will build a submarine cable system with a total length of approximately 5,582 kilometers, divided into four submarine cable segments connecting 10 cable landing stations. This system will enhance network redundancy through geographically diverse connection paths, reduce the risk of service disruptions, and improve Malaysia's overall communications resilience.

This project is Malaysia's second national submarine cable system, following the existing submarine cable system of Telekom Malaysia (TM). According to the 2026 budget, the project has been allocated 2 billion ringgit (approximately 430 million US dollars), with an expected construction period of two to three years. MCMC has previously appointed a consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study for the project, covering technical design, cost estimation, risk assessment, and implementation strategies.

In accordance with Section 5 of the Communications and Multimedia (Universal Service Provision) Regulations 2002, interested companies must submit a registration form and a draft universal service plan for MCMC evaluation. MCMC stated that the SALAM submarine cable network will support the continued expansion of nationwide broadband services and 5G networks, while providing infrastructure support for the development of cloud infrastructure, data centers, artificial intelligence technology, and other emerging digital fields. The project is expected to further drive Malaysia's digital economy development, expand the digital inclusion agenda, and enhance the country's long-term communications resilience.