Gobind: 5G Task Force in final phase of completing report on implementing 5G in M'sia

KUALA LUMPUR: The National 5G Task Force is in the final phase of completing its final report before submitting it to the Government, most likely in the fourth quarter of this year, says Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo

He said the task force, comprising those from the private and public sector, was tasked to study the country's strategy in implementing 5G technology in a holistic manner.

"The ministry, via the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), will then study the report before bringing it to Cabinet to allow for the most effective way of implementing 5G services," he said in reply to a question from Teh Kok Lim (PH-Taiping) during Question Time.

Teh had asked the Ministry to explain its latest updates in implementing the 5G technology.

The 5G National Task Force had outlined a comprehensive plan to deploy 5G in Malaysia through four working groups — Business Case Working, Spectrum Management and Allocation, Infrastructure, and Regulatory.

Gobind said the ministry had conducted a consultation session in June by inviting other ministries, agencies, as well as relevant parties from the private sector including the Malaysian Productivity Corporation and SME Corp Malaysia, among others, to identify the needs and challenges in implementing the technology and 5G ecosystem at the government level.

"On Sept 30, the Ministry, via MCMC, had announced the 5G Demonstration Project (5GDP) during a briefing with the media at its headquarters in Cyberjaya.

"The 5GDP testbed will be implemented for a period of six months beginning Oct until March 2020 by eight companies that will develop 55 cases of 5G usage, in six states, which are Kedah, Perak, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur," said Gobind.

He said the 5G demonstration project was a test of the preparedness for the country to implement the 5G technology.

"Companies that are involved with the project include Altel Communications Sdn Bhd, Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, edotco Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Maxis Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd and Petroliam Nasional Bhd," he added.