Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) is using Free-Space Optical Communication (FSO) technology to provide high-speed internet on Pulau Bum Bum, with potential for broader national deployment, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
FSO technology can be a solution in challenging areas where building telecom towers is difficult. Currently, about 3% of Malaysia’s populated areas lack internet, affecting approximately 2,800 communities, according to Bernama.
Of these, only 15% can be serviced by traditional telecom towers, while the remaining 85% may need hybrid solutions like satellite, VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal), or FSO technology.
What is FSO?
FSO technology, explained by TM One executive Vice-President Shazurawati Abd Karim, transmits data through light over distances up to three kilometres, offering gigabit broadband speeds.
“Free space” refers to environments like air, outer space, or a vacuum, as opposed to solid mediums such as optical fibre cables. Starlink by SpaceX is an example of FSO technology.
Besides Pulau Bum Bum, FSO has been implemented in Pulau Aman (Penang), Maludam, and Beladin (Sarawak) since 2022.
