Fahmi: We have 70.2% of 5G coverage nationwide

Progress updates: Fahmi replying to questions on the status of the 5G network development so far. — Bernama

THE 5G adoption in Malaysia is among the fastest in the world, with 70.2% 5G coverage and 5,873 sites available nationwide as of Sept 30, says Fahmi Fadzil.

The Communications and Digital Minister was replying to Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani’s (BN-Titiwangsa) question about the status of 5G network development so far.

“Digital Nasional Bhd, which is the sole provider of 5G network, aims to build (another 1,636 sites next year), for a total of 7,509 5G sites and 80% coverage nationwide,” he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.

When asked about the number of subscriptions received through 5G network services, Fahmi said a total of 2.49 million had been recorded, with a penetration rate of 7.4%.

“Six mobile service providers have offered 5G commercial plans, including CelcomDigi, Maxis, Umobile, Telekom Malaysia, YTL Communications and Yoodo,” he added.

Fahmi also said PETRONAS launched a private 5G network to optimise its internal operations last Thursday, the first of its kind in Malaysia.

“This ensures 5G services are maximised by companies and net sustainability and balance are achieved,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said the government will consider using the sebenarnya.my portal to filter websites that offer fake businesses or services with a verification stamp that notifies people of fraudulent activities.

He said this might be necessary because scammers are using increasingly clever tactics to make it challenging to distinguish fake online offers.

“One of the problems often faced by sebenarnya.my is when some quarters make an offer of (financial) assistance of RM200 to RM1,000 allegedly from a government agency with a website that looks like a government website.

He added that the problem will crop up if it involves technical issues such as coding or changing hosts, which could be copied or pasted on the fake websites.

Apart from filtering fake websites, he said, one of the best ways to overcome the problem was to improve digital literacy so that people would not become victims of online fraud.