BUTTERWORTH: It is not enough to have 5G connectivity at home and work; people need it while travelling too.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said Malaysia may review how 5G coverage is measured to include highways, railway lines and ports instead of focusing solely on populated areas.
He said the current coverage- of-populated-areas measurement focused more on the number of residents and did not adequately reflect connectivity needs in areas with significant economic activities.
“Ports may not have residents, but they are centres of important economic activity. 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 yesterday.
Fahmi said the Communications Ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would examine the proposal, which could be raised at the International Telecommunication Union meeting in Doha, Qatar next month.
He said the ministry would prepare a Cabinet paper on expanding private 5G technology to other ports, including Port Klang.
Using data from Penang Port and technology partner Altel Communications Sdn Bhd, the paper would demonstrate how private 5G could improve productivity, reduce costs and strengthen security.
Fahmi said the ministry would work with the Transport Ministry, following previous efforts to address Internet connectivity gaps along Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd railway routes. Several stretches in northern, eastern and southern Peninsular Malaysia had poor or no internet connectivity.
On Penang Port’s private 5G network, Fahmi said it would support remote-controlled heavy machinery, automated security surveillance and improved communications.
Gantry cranes and other heavy equipment could eventually be operated remotely, while 5G-connected robotic dogs could provide continuous surveillance.
“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 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, adding that Penang had more than 450 multinational companies.
He cited DHL’s highly automated “dark warehouse” in Batu Kawan, 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.
It covers about 2.5sq km across NBCT and the Butterworth Deep Water Wharves, with room for expansion.
Its core network and applications are hosted within Penang Port, providing greater control over operational data and security while supporting latency below 15 milliseconds.
Penang Port Sdn Bhd 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.
Fakhrul Azhar said the infrastructure would pave the way for remote-controlled cranes, autonomous prime movers, predictive fleet maintenance and AI-enabled surveillance.
