This article appeared in Digital News Asia on 19 July 2022.

Demand for Internet bandwidth in Malaysia continues to rise with the Malaysia Internet Exchange reporting a peak of 1.46 Tbps in June 2022, more than doubling the 588 Gbps posted in May 2020 during the first movement control order (MCO>

In a statement, MyIX chairman Chiew Kok Hin said this record peak shows that the internet and digital economy are deeply entrenched in Malaysian lifestyle and work cultures today.

“The digital economy is pivotal for Malaysia's sustainable development and central to the way we live, work and conduct business.

"It's a very encouraging sign for Malaysia as it shows that digitisation is accelerating while also bridging the digital divide," said Chiew.

Studies have shown that a country's ability to compete and evolve in the 21st century increasingly depends on its efficient use of information and communication technologies, MyIX noted.

Additionally, digitisation paves the way for automation and cloud computing models for businesses to realise greater productivity and operational efficiencies, it said.

On its end, MyIX said it connects all major internet service providers, data centres and content providers with the objective of keeping ‘local traffic local.’

The exchange added that membership to join MyIX continues to grow strongly with the association recently welcoming Kaopu Cloud HK Limited (Kaopu Cloud), Anexia Internetdienstleistungs GmbH (Anexia) and Basicbrix Sdn Bhd (Basicbrix) into its fold.

This brings its total membership number to 128 today, it said.

Hong Kong-based Kaopu Cloud positions itself as ‘a one-stop Hybrid Cloud MSP (managed services provider)’ dedicated to providing global companies with one-stop cloud management and hybrid cloud services’.

Anexia is a hosting and cloud services company with offices in Austria, Germany and the United States and Basicbrix is a cloud services provider headquartered in Singapore and its specialties include enterprise-grade cloud servers, colocation and cloud storage.

Chiew explained that MyIX's Multi-Lateral Peering Arrangements is aimed at improving efficiencies of routing and general connectivity. 

“The exchange comprises local companies which make up local and associate members, while peering partners are international companies,” he said.

In April, the association said it lowered its port pricing with the new pricing scheme representing a reduction of 33% from previous rates: A 1Gbps port will be priced at RM500 per month, while a 10Gbps port will cost US$449 (RM2,000) monthly. 

Meanwhile, a 100Gbps port will cost US$1,800 (RM8,000) monthly, it said. 

MyIX was established in 2006 as an initiative under the Malaysian Communications Multimedia Commission (MCMC).