---
title: Malaysia reveals timeline for SALAM subsea cable project - Developing Telecoms
description: A plan by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to build a new subsea cable connecting peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak is reportedly moving forward, with construction scheduled to begin early next next year.
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A plan by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to build a new subsea cable connecting peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak is reportedly moving forward, with construction scheduled to begin early next next year.

According to the government’s Bernama news agency, the Communications Ministry submitted a written reply to a question from Parliament on Wednesday, saying work on the SALAM project – which is being developed under the Universal Service Provision (USP) framework – is scheduled to start sometime in Q1 2027, and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2029.

That said, the MCMC is still evaluating submissions for the Sambungan Kabel Dasar Laut MADANI (SALAM) cable following [the publication of the invitation document for the project this past July](https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks/20548-mcmc-calls-for-proposals-to-build-domestic-salam-subsea-cable.html), the report said.

The SALAM project aims to build a 5,582-km subsea cable comprising four segments interconnected by ten landing stations – three in Sarawak, five in Sabah and two in peninsular Malaysia.

The MCMC says the cable system will enhance network redundancy, reduce the risk of service disruptions and strengthen Malaysia’s overall communications resilience.

Separately, according to the Borneo Post, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement on Thursday that Bintulu has been selected as one of the three landing points in Sarawak. The other nine landing points have not yet been finalised, the report said.

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