Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society (MARTS) is set to conduct a significant national emergency drill, known as the Malaysian Emergency Simulated Test (MySET) 2026, on January 31 to address a 'Black Sky' scenario. This scenario involves the catastrophic failure of critical infrastructure, including cellular networks, the internet, and the power grid, which could be triggered by natural disasters or systemic failures.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the simulation will engage approximately 300 amateur radio operators across the nation. This effort is a collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), and the National Planetarium, aiming to test the country's backup communication systems during a total communications blackout.
MARTS president Mohd Aris Bernawi highlighted the role of amateur radio operators as a professional and reliable auxiliary communications service that functions independently of infrastructure. MySET 2026 will use a hybrid communication system covering both long and short ranges. High Frequency (HF) bands with NVIS techniques will handle long-distance communication, while Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) will be used for short-range tactical and digital data operations.
A notable feature of MySET 2026 is the expanded use of digital technologies like the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) and Long Range (LoRa) to facilitate text data and location sharing without the internet. All participating operators must comply with the Apparatus Assignment conditions from MCMC to prevent radio spectrum interference.
To realistically simulate the 'Black Sky' scenario, all stations will operate solely on battery or solar power, independent of the national grid. Participants are expected to be technically and mentally prepared, as operational commands will be issued at short notice via emergency frequencies on the day, testing their response speed under pressure.
The exercise, coordinated from the Main Control Station at the National Planetarium, aims to strengthen the partnership between the amateur radio community and government agencies. This collaboration is crucial for developing a resilient national communications asset for future crisis management.