What is internet bandwidth? It refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted over a internet connection in a given amount of time. It is typically measured in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second (Bps).
A higher bandwidth allows for faster internet speeds and the ability to handle more traffic, while a lower bandwidth may result in slower speeds and difficulty handling large amounts of data. The amount of bandwidth a user has access to can depend on the type of internet connection they have, such as broadband or fibre.
The New Straits Times reports that the demand for internet bandwidth in Malaysia has been rapidly increasing, as evidenced by the peak of 1.9 terabytes per second (Tbps) recorded by the Malaysia Internet Exchange (MyIX) in December 2022.
MyIX is a not-for-profit organisation and the first neutral Internet Exchange connecting local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content providers to exchange internet traffic.
This is a significant increase from the 588 gigabytes per second (Gbps) recorded in May 2020. According to MyIX Chairman Chiew Kok Hin, this high demand reflects the growing reliance of Malaysians on the internet and digital economy in their daily lives and work, especially in light of the recent shift to hybrid formats.
He also stated that demand is expected to continue rising as the Malaysia Digital Strategy continues to drive the adoption and expansion of digital opportunities in support of the country’s recovery plan.
In addition, due to rapid growth of video conferencing and traffic, together with large-scale display technologies, which brings about video traffic requiring very high bandwidth, we foresee demand for Internet bandwidth increasing in the months and years ahead.
MyIX, Chairman, Chiew Kok Hin.
According to the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the digital economy in Malaysia is currently contributing 22.6% to the country’s GDP and is expected to increase to 25.5% by 2025. Chiew Kok Hin also praised the government for their efforts to make the digital economy a key driver of growth for the country.
He also suggested that the government implement policies to attract more foreign direct investments, such as reinstating cabotage exemptions for foreign vessels conducting undersea cable repairs and for telecommunications companies and data centers facing potential increases in electricity tariffs.
Additionally, MyIX lowered its port pricing by 33% last year to support the growth of Malaysia’s digital economy and benefit the country.
