KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must strengthen its fibre connectivity infrastructure to meet growing artificial intelligence (AI) demands and keep its digital ecosystem competitive, resilient and future-ready.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the rapid expansion of AI was driving unprecedented demand for computing capacity, data centres, high-capacity networks and reliable digital connectivity.
"While much of the attention surrounding AI is focused on applications, platforms and computing capabilities, we must not overlook the physical digital infrastructure that makes these innovations possible.
"The AI revolution is only as strong as the infrastructure that supports it," he said in a speech read by Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Mano Verabathran at the opening of the FiberConnect APAC Conference 2026 here today.
Fahmi said fibre networks were fundamental to the AI economy, linking data centres, mobile networks, businesses, homes, smart cities, cloud infrastructure and international networks.
He said demand for faster, more reliable and higher-capacity connectivity would continue to rise alongside growing data volumes and digital traffic.
Malaysia was well-positioned to capitalise on opportunities in the regional digital infrastructure and AI ecosystem, given its strategic location in Southeast Asia, expanding digital economy and data centre sector, and extensive connectivity infrastructure.
However, Fahmi said infrastructure development must keep pace with future demands while remaining secure, scalable and sustainable.
"This means developing infrastructure that is high-capacity, resilient, secure, scalable and sustainable, while ensuring that our digital infrastructure remains competitive and future-ready," he said.
He said advances in optical fibre, AI-ready networks, data centre interconnects and intelligent infrastructure would be crucial to the next phase of digital transformation.
Collaboration among the government, regulators, telecommunications operators, infrastructure providers, technology companies, investors, researchers and industry associations was also essential, he added.
Fahmi said that digital infrastructure development must be inclusive, ensuring improved connectivity and emerging technologies benefited businesses, communities and society.
"Connectivity is not simply about speed or capacity; it is ultimately about people and opportunities," he said.
He added that regional cooperation across Asean and the wider Asia-Pacific region would become increasingly important as data, cloud services, submarine networks, digital platforms and AI infrastructure crossed national borders.
Fahmi described the FiberConnect APAC Conference as an important platform for industry stakeholders to exchange experiences, explore emerging technologies, forge partnerships and identify opportunities to develop next-generation digital infrastructure.
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