Measat: Solar radiation may disrupt satellite signals between March 15 to March 22, with possible outages for Connectme and Astro

This is due to a phenomenon referred to as a solar outage when the sun lines up with both the satellite and the terrestrial base station receiving the signals transmitted by the satellite. — MOHD SAHAR MISNI/The Star

Measat Global has warned users via a Facebook post of a potential service outage for services offered through the satellite communications company's Measat-3a, Measat-3b, and Measat-3d satellites due to solar radiation.

Such services include satellite broadband offered under Measat's Connectme Now and Astro.

This is due to a phenomenon referred to as a solar outage when the sun lines up with both the satellite and the terrestrial base station receiving the signals transmitted by the satellite.

This damages or even possibly destroys the satellite's signals, due to the sun momentarily radiating at the same frequency. According to Measat, the disruption will only last for a few minutes.

"As satellites align with the sun, we may experience a disruption in satellite signals due to solar radiation. This is called a Sun Outage phenomenon.

"For MEASAT satellites, the Vernal Equinox will be from 15 to 22 March and won’t last more than 12 minutes," it writes in the post.

The post further states that this phenomenon happens twice a year, the first between February and March, and the second between September and October.