The Malaysia Internet Exchange (MyIX) reported the Internet bandwidth demand in the country reached a record peak of 2.1 TeraBits per second (Tbps) last month (May 2023). This is an almost four-fold increase from the 588 GigaBits per second (Gbps) recorded in May 2020 during the first movement control order (MCO).
“Digitisation is undeniably gaining momentum in Malaysia, and the strong demand for Internet bandwidth serves as an encouraging sign,” said MyIX chairman Chiew Kok Hin.
Chiew foresees a continuous surge in demand for Internet bandwidth, primarily driven by the rapid growth of video conferencing and traffic and the proliferation of large-scale display technologies that require substantial bandwidth to support the escalating video traffic.
“Digitisation is undeniably gaining momentum in Malaysia, and the strong demand for Internet bandwidth serves as an encouraging sign,” he said.
“Numerous studies have demonstrated that a country’s ability to compete and evolve in the 21st century is increasingly dependent on its efficient utilisation of information and communication technologies.”
Aligned with the exponential growth of digitalisation, the Malaysian government has also acknowledged the pivotal role of the digital economy.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil recently said that Malaysia’s digital economy is projected to contribute 25.5% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025, highlighting its crucial position in the nation’s economic landscape.
The soaring demand for Internet bandwidth can be attributed to a multitude of factors.
“The proliferation of online streaming services, the surge in remote work and telecommuting arrangements, and the growing reliance on cloud-based technologies have all contributed to the exponential increase in data consumption, necessitating enhanced fast and reliable Internet connectivity,” said Chiew.
Recognising the importance of keeping up with this escalating demand, he shared that both local Internet service providers (ISPs) and global players are continuously upgrading their ports to ensure high-speed and reliable internet access.
He encourages hosting companies, universities, and enterprises to join MyIX, as the exchange operates on a ‘network effect’, wherein the more participants it has, the better the overall internet connectivity throughout Malaysia.
MyIX has installed the Ookla Speedtest server under its network, enabling users to conduct speed tests and monitor their internet connection quality. Since April 2023, the server has facilitated over 24,000 tests.
MyIX was established in 2006 as an initiative under the Malaysian Communications Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Membership is open to Network Service Provider (NSP) license holders under CMA 1988 and existing entities whose primary business is hosting content (including but not limited to hosting corporate websites, dedicated server hosting, shared hosting or offshore hosting).
It is also open to entities involved or associated with content delivered via the Internet upon approval from the MyIX committee. Local members should also have an Autonomous System (AS) number issued by the regional AS assigning authority.
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