USM PENANG, 16 August 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has reached a major milestone by launching a high-speed research and education network connection known as the Arterial Research and Educational Network in the Asia Pacific (ARENA-PAC), delivering data transfer speeds of up to 100 Gigabits per second.

The launch ceremony, held at the Eureka Complex, USM, was officiated by Professor Dr. Jun Murai, Director of ARENA-PAC from Keio University, Japan.

Also in attendance were USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, along with prominent academic figures from Malaysia and abroad.

In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor described the network connection as a major leap forward for USM in enhancing research, education, and international collaboration.

“With this ultra-fast network, USM researchers can engage in more efficient and dynamic collaborations with global partners in fields such as climate science, medicine, and engineering.

“This presents a tremendous opportunity to conduct high-impact research that can benefit society on a global scale,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to ARENA-PAC, APNIC, Cisco, Juniper Networks, and the expert teams from USM’s School of Computer Sciences and Digital Transformation Centre for their roles in making the project a reality.

The event featured a keynote address titled “Role of Research and Educational Network” by Professor Murai.

In his presentation, he revisited the early days of internet development in 1995, when less than one percent of the global population was connected.

He highlighted that the success of today’s internet, including platforms like Google, was driven by open standards and shared resource models that allowed for distributed costs and investments—ultimately accelerating innovation.

Professor Murai emphasized the internet’s unique nature as a decentralized and autonomous system, free from central control, which makes it truly global and resilient.

“This approach reflects the spirit of ARENA-PAC, which aims to build research networks that connect institutions across the world,” he said.

“If we have dreams, they can be realized; if we face challenges, they can be overcome in a digital environment. ARENA-PAC is a platform that turns these possibilities into reality through cross-border collaboration,” he added.

Among the distinguished guests were the Director of the School of Internet Asia, Professor Dr. Keiko Okawa; Chair of the APNIC Foundation, Dato’ Sharil Tarmizi; Director General of APNIC, Jia-Rong Low; Managing Director of MYNeuTrans, Dr. Awang Lah; Founding President of the Singapore Advanced Research and Education Network, Associate Professor Dr. Francis Lee; Director of USM’s Digital Transformation Centre, Professor Ir. Dr. Nor Ashidi Mat Isa; and Dean of USM’s School of Computer Sciences, Associate Professor Dr. Wan Nazmee Wan Zainon.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), USM leadership, industry partners, as well as international participants from Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines also joined the event virtually.

With the launch of ARENA-PAC, USM reaffirms its commitment to leading the development of an inclusive, innovative, and high-impact global research ecosystem.

This network is expected to serve as a catalyst for new achievements that will not only elevate the university’s reputation but also deliver meaningful benefits to society and the world at large.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa