Malaysia has set a target of GB-speed Internet services for selected areas by 2020 and all state capitals by 2023, says minister

By RAHIMI YUNUS / Pic By ISMAIL CHE RUS

A report on the 5G testbeds and trials by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is expected to be released by the fourth quarter (4Q) of this year.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the 5G task force will provide recommendations for 5G deployment in the country after the completion of testbeds and trials in Putrajaya and Cyberjaya from April to October this year.

“We are working to develop a holistic plan for 5G implementation in Malaysia and the results will be shared with the task force for inclusion into their report,” Gobind said at the Digital Innovation Conference by the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Malaysia becomes one of the earliest countries to run such a trial with Cyberjaya and Putrajaya being the chosen areas for the pioneer test.

Maxis Bhd in collaboration with Huawei Technologies Co Ltd has begun the first 5G live trials in Cyberjaya recently.

Other vested parties and industry players are expected to follow suit.

Additionally, Perak has planned to run 5G pilot tests by July and Bandar Meru Raya was chosen to be the first location in the state for the exercise.

Gobind said Malaysia, under the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan, has set a target of gigabyte (GB)-speed Internet services for selected high-impact and strategic industrial areas by 2020 and all state capitals by 2023.

Meanwhile, he said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must adopt digital technologies to be part of a world-class digital ecosystem in the near future.

He said according to surveys, Malaysian SMEs have merely added computers to their operations to modernise their businesses and many have not moved beyond basic computing.

He said 71% of SMEs have engaged in social media for product communication and marketing, but only 44% were involved in e-commerce activities.

In October 2018, the Department of Statistics Malaysia noted that information and communication technologies have contributed RM247 billion to the national economy.

E-commerce value-added contribution to the national GDP has grown over a period of seven years from RM37.7 billion in 2010 to RM85.8 billion in 2017 at an annual growth rate of 12.5%.