DOHA: Malaysia and Qatar are exploring closer cooperation in satellite communications and quantum-secure communication technology to improve digital connectivity in areas without Internet coverage and strengthen communication networks against hacking threats.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the areas were among those discussed during a bilateral meeting with Qatar Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, including satellite monitoring and technologies to enhance the security and resilience of communication systems.
He said satellite communications were expected to play an increasingly important role in providing Internet access, particularly in areas without telecommunications towers or existing network coverage.
"Satellite communications will now play an important role, especially in areas without telecommunications towers or Internet access.
"We will look at how Qatar implements it, how Malaysia intends to implement it, and how we can work together to make communications more secure and less vulnerable to hacking," he told Bernama and RTM this after the meeting held on the sidelines of the International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference 2026 (ITU PP-26) here on Tuesday (Nov 10).
Fahmi said the discussions also opened opportunities for both countries to strengthen cooperation in digital literacy and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy.
Meanwhile, Fahmi also met Nepal's Minister of Communication and Information Technology Bikram Timilsina to discuss potential cooperation in similar areas and convey condolences over the devastating floods on Aug 26.
He said the discussions also touched on matters involving the Attorneys General of Malaysia and Nepal to determine the status of Malaysians affected by the disaster and provide certainty to their families.
"I had the opportunity to speak with the Nepalese minister and convey my condolences. We also discussed several matters involving the Attorneys General of both countries to resolve the status of Malaysians who remain unaccounted for, so that their families can have certainty," he said. — Bernama
