BUTTERWORTH: Malaysia may review how 5G coverage is measured to include economic hubs such as ports, railway lines and highways, instead of focusing solely on populated areas, says Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi said the current Coverage of Populated Areas (COPA) measurement did not adequately reflect connectivity needs in areas with significant economic activities but few residents.
He said the Communications Ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would examine the proposal, which could be raised at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meeting in Doha this November.
"Ports may not have residents, but they are centres of important economic activities.
"We need to look at whether coverage measurements should go beyond populated areas to include ports, railway networks and major highways," he told reporters after launching Malaysia's first dedicated-spectrum private 5G network at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) here on Saturday (Oct 17).
Fahmi said the ministry would also prepare a Cabinet paper to explore expanding private 5G technology to other ports nationwide, including Port Klang.
The paper would draw on data from Penang Port and its technology partner, Altel Communications Sdn Bhd, to demonstrate how the technology could improve productivity, reduce costs and strengthen security.
He said the ministry would work with the Transport Ministry on the initiative, following previous collaboration to address internet connectivity gaps along Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) railway routes.
Fahmi said Penang Port's private 5G network would support three major applications: remote-controlled heavy machinery, automated security surveillance and improved communication systems.
Gantry cranes and other heavy equipment could eventually be operated remotely, while 5G-connected robotic dogs could provide continuous security surveillance.
The network would also enable conventional analogue communication systems to be replaced with 5G-enabled push-to-talk technology.
"These are three major benefits that we believe can reduce operating costs, increase productivity and improve safety," he said.
Unlike public mobile networks, private 5G provides dedicated connectivity for critical industrial operations without competing with other users for network capacity.
Fahmi also urged MMC Group, which operates several major ports, to consider adopting the technology at its other facilities.
He encouraged manufacturers and multinational companies to explore private 5G applications, noting that Penang was home to more than 450 multinational companies.
Citing DHL's operations in Batu Kawan, he said 5G technology had enabled the logistics company to establish a highly automated "dark warehouse", where robotic systems could operate with minimal lighting.
Earlier, Penang Port launched the country's first private 5G network operating on dedicated spectrum with a fully on-premises architecture.
Developed with Altel Communications, the network covers approximately 2.5sq km across NBCT and the Butterworth Deep Water Wharves (BDWW), with provisions for future expansion.
Its core network and applications are hosted entirely within Penang Port, providing greater control over performance, operational data and security while supporting latency below 15 milliseconds.
Penang Port acting chief executive officer Fakhrul Azhar Tajudin said the technology would overcome connectivity challenges caused by heavy machinery, stacked containers and massive gantry cranes.
"Having our own dedicated spectrum gives us complete control over our network.
"It ensures the fast, stable connection our daily operations depend on," he said.
He said the infrastructure would pave the way for remote-controlled cranes, autonomous prime movers, predictive fleet maintenance and AI-enabled surveillance.
Altel Group chief executive officer Dr Afizulazha Abdullah said dedicated-spectrum private 5G would give businesses greater control over connectivity as they adopted automation and artificial intelligence.
Penang Port is a member of MMC Group, while Altel Communications is a subsidiary of Tradewinds Group Malaysia.
