Kuching: Sarawak is strengthening its sovereign data ecosystem to support planning, smart city development and accelerate project implementation in the state, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He emphasized that the sovereign data concept enables government data to be stored and managed through its own infrastructure before being utilised for various development purposes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the platform consolidates data that can be used for planning, including the development of smart cities. It offers information on residential areas, business districts, road networks, connectivity within the city, and public transport. This data aims to expedite project development and enhance efforts to find solutions using the collected data on a unified platform.

Abang Johari noted that not all data could be shared, distinguishing between strategic data that could be shared and security-related data that needed protection. Access to certain data can be granted to external parties, including investors interested in joint ventures with Sarawak. For instance, investors wanting to develop a biodiversity-related manufacturing plant can access information on location, land area, and relevant data through the platform before submitting an application to the government.

To support this initiative, Sarawak plans to develop its own satellite constellation by 2030, enhancing its capability to obtain data and signals from the Earth. The constellation would consist of at least six interconnected satellites, facilitating continuous data acquisition from the Earth 24 hours a day.