JLand Group and MSA Resources ink US$14.3mil MoU to expand dark fibre connectivity in Johor

• MSAR will invest US$14.3 mil into the project
• The local line will benefit areas surrounding STeP, said JLG

JLand Group (JLG), Johor Corporation's real estate and infrastructure arm, has signed an MoU with MSA Resources (MSAR), a telecommunications infrastructure provider, to deploy Sedenak Tech Park's (STeP) direct connection to the Digital Superhighway Network.
 
The scope of the partnership includes Data Centre Interconnect (DCI) connectivity within and beyond STeP. Presently available for connection with Singapore data centres, the network uses dual access via the Causeway and the Tuas Second Link. The fibre connectivity, projected to be ready by Q4 2023, will extend from Johor to the northern and southern borders of Peninsular Malaysia.
 
Through this collaboration, both parties aim to strengthen STeP's position as Southeast Asia's regional data centre hub. MSAR's objective as part of this MoU is to enable STeP's connectivity with neighbouring countries and beyond via upcoming subsea cable systems, which will reach terrestrial networks in Johor. Leveraging its geographical position, Johor holds a strategic advantage in linking east and westbound traffic across both coasts.
 
JLG and MSAR held a signing ceremony in conjunction with Johor Smart City Forum 2023, which was witnessed by Mohamad Fazli Salleh, Chairman of Johor Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
 
"The deployment of this local line is set to benefit areas surrounding STeP, within the larger area of Ibrahim Technopolis (IBTEC), which spans across 7290 acres," said Akmal Ahmad, Director of Real Estate & Infrastructure at Johor Corporation and Deputy Chairman of JLG.
 
"We are excited about the prospects of STeP and will be investing RM66 million (US$14.3 million) to cater for its connectivity requirements. In addition, all major data centre hubs in Peninsular Malaysia will be fully connected to our network by the end of 2023," said Saiful Husni, Managing Director, MSAR.
 
The Digital Superhighway Network has the capability for data transmission speeds of up to 800Gbps and a total network capacity of 33.6Tbs per fibre pair. From this, cities and rural areas throughout Peninsular Malaysia will have access to 4,400 Points of Interconnect (POI) that will enable high broadband coverage. Phase 1 of the project involves the installation of fibres from Bukit Kayu Hitam (which lies at the northern end of the North-South Highway) to Johor Bahru in the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia.