In line with Malaysia’s current goal to implement 5G Infrastructure nationwide by 2023, various local telecommunication (telco) providers are undertaking 5G demonstration projects. According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), 5G demonstration projects are being conducted across six states of Kedah, Perak, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu, and Kuala Lumpur, involving key telco players such as Telekom Malaysia (TM), Celcom, Digi, Maxis, Edotco, U Mobile, Petroliam Nasional, and YTL. The projects have an initial investment of MYR 143 million (USD 34 million).
TM has successfully conducted a standalone dedicated 5G network mode test on C-band and 700 MHz simultaneously on a converged 5G core network. It had also set up an Integrated Operations Command Centre, calling it the 5G Command Centre (5GCC).
In January 2020, TM inked Memorandums of Collaboration (MoCs) with the Langkawi Island’s municipal, tourism and development authorities for the deployment of its 5G-enabled use cases. The use cases include Smart Traffic Light Solution, Smart Parking Solution and Smart Safety and Security Solution. In addition, TM and the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) are partnering to exchange data and information on places of interest for the Smart Tourism “My Smart City” App and the UNESCO 8K Virtual Reality (VR) as well as data on tourist arrivals from the Langkawi International Airport and Langkawi Ferry Terminal. TM is also partnering with Digi and U Mobile to explore the 5G network Infrastructure sharing models in Langkawi.
In February 2020, the Penang state government rolled out MYR 23.2 million (USD 5.5 million) worth of 5G demonstration projects. All 19 projects are fully funded by the telco companies. The projects are being implemented in partnership with government bodies such as Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Tourism Penang, Malaysian Airport Holding Berhad, Penang Hill Corporation, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and Penang Development Corporation, as well as corporations such as Clarion Sdn Bhd, Intel Technology and Hotayi Electronic Sdn Bhd.
The projects include 5G live streaming at the Penang International Airport, ultra high speed internet access and virtual tourism experience at Penang Hill, smart facial recognition and smart production automation and monitoring in Hotayi, smart building in Komtar, smart safety and security, smart traffic light and smart parking around Komtar area and fixed wireless access at the ferry terminal.
MCMC has recently identified 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz and 26/28 GHz (24.9 GHz to 28.1 GHz) bands for the initial deployment of 5G in the country. MCMC is considering the allocation of the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands to a single entity comprising a consortium formed by multiple licensees instead of allocating these bands to individual licensees. Participants of the consortium may share the required resources to roll out the relevant Infrastructure and the provisioning of relevant network services to support 5G.
(Sources: The Edge Market; Malay Mail)
