KUALA LUMPUR, December 30 – Sarawak’s digital connectivity is set for a significant boost with the completion of the SouthEast Asia Hainan-Hong Kong Express Cable System (SEA-H2X) by the third quarter of 2025. Deputy Minister of Communications, Teo Nie Ching, announced that the 160Tbps undersea fiber-optic cable network will enhance data transmission across the Asia-Pacific region, linking Sarawak to major hubs such as Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia.
The SEA-H2X, developed by Irix Sdn Bhd, follows the company’s success in delivering the Batam Sarawak Internet Cable System (BaSICS) in 2022. Teo emphasized that Sarawak’s connectivity infrastructure, including the Tier-IV-rated data center in Santubong, positions the state as a burgeoning data hub for artificial intelligence (AI) processing in Borneo, with capabilities for zero-tolerance downtime.
Existing domestic undersea cables, such as Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s Sistem Kabel Rakyat Malaysia and Sacofa Sdn Bhd’s East-West cable system, further strengthen the region’s digital framework with capacities of 9.5Tbps and 600Gbps, respectively. Responding to Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew’s query on undersea cable capacity, Teo affirmed that current infrastructure is sufficient to meet future demands, while SEA-H2X will bolster Sarawak’s role as a digital and AI industry hub.
The project exemplifies Malaysia’s commitment to advancing technological infrastructure and enhancing regional connectivity.
