MCMC to undertake more awareness programmes on 5G

LANGKAWI (Jan 21): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will carry out more awareness programmes on the fifth-generation (5G) technology to avoid confusion among the public and provide a better understanding of its benefits.

Its chairman Al-Ishsal Ishak said for the moment, 5G main usage is for the industries and MCMC has yet to promote it for mobile device usage.

"As for mobile devices for social media usage, the current 4G technology is still relevant within a period of 10 years," he told Bernama.

Al-Ishsal said besides promotional efforts through social media and MCMC's website, the commission would use other methods to help the public gain a better understanding of the differences between 3G, 4G and 5G.

He said in order to meet economic and social needs, the 5G and the 4G technologies would be developed simultaneously as stated in the National Optical Fiber and Connectivity Plan for a more sustainable and comprehensive network ecosystem.

"We need to upgrade the 4G in Malaysia as it is still immature and we also need investment from telecommunications companies.

"But at the same time, we must look to the future which requires the 5G technology to help increase the output of certain sectors that contribute to the country's economy," Al-Ishsal said.

The 5G demonstration projects in Langkawi will be implemented within a six-month period until March this year.

The commercialisation of 5G technology is expected to be launched in the third quarter of this year, thereby putting Malaysia as one of the 5G pioneers in the Asean region.