29 April 2025
Altel Group and Zhejiang Geespace Technology have established a joint venture named Altel Digital, aimed at creating regional industrial communication solutions that integrate satellite and 4G technologies.
Altel Digital will leverage Altel’s existing LTE infrastructure alongside Geespace’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to provide a variety of services across Malaysia and Southeast Asia. These services will include LEO satellite connectivity, satellite IoT capabilities, high-precision positioning, and the development of localized ground infrastructure.
The joint venture plans to implement crucial satellite and communication services infrastructure in Malaysia. This includes the establishment of two ground earth stations, two telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) centres, application data centres, and a PPP-RTK network aimed at providing centimetre-accurate positioning services.
Khoo Yuen Hing, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Altel Digital, indicated that while the infrastructure will be rolled out in phases over the next 24 months, commercial operations are set to commence this year. The initial solutions will cater to key sectors such as maritime, agriculture, transportation, and energy.
During the launch ceremony, Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil highlighted that Altel Digital will collaborate with key government agencies on substantial national projects that align with frameworks such as the National Space Policy 2030, the Governance National Digital Network (Jendela) plan, and the Cybersecurity Act 2024. He noted that the focus areas of Altel Digital correspond closely with the government’s ambitions for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
In the joint venture, Altel holds a majority stake of 51%, while Geespace owns the remaining 49%. This collaboration builds upon a prior agreement made in September 2024 between Geespace and Altel Communications to establish a research and development centre and a centre of excellence focused on developing use cases for direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications technology.
Looking ahead, Geespace has a roadmap that includes the deployment of 72 LEO satellites by the end of 2025, marking the first phase of its satellite constellation targeting connected vehicles. Currently, 30 LEO satellites are in orbit, with plans for a second phase that will add 264 satellites for D2D communications, and a third phase that will launch an additional 5,676 satellites dedicated to high-speed broadband services.
