KUALA LUMPUR: Labuan is set to be the next city after Cyberjaya and Putrajaya to receive the all-new fifth generation (5G) technology facilities this year, says Labuan Corp chairman Datuk Seri Amir Hussein.
The test for the next generation mobile technology, which promises robust, high quality and affordable digital connectivity, has been conducted in Cyberjaya and Putrajaya since April.
Amir Hussein said the technology development will next be carried out in the island city, making it ready when 5G is commercially available in only a few years’ time.
Having such facilities is part of Labuan Corp’s efforts to improve internet connectivity in the island, turning it into one of the preferred tourist hotspots in the region, he added.
While telecommunication companies were busy extending internet coverage nationwide, it is quite a revelation that Labuan’s internet connectivity is still far behind.
People in the city had trouble connecting to fast internet with access still within 3G space, he said.
“5G test will also be conducted in Labuan. The internet connection here badly needs to be improved as soon as possible.
“In some places here, the coverage is pretty poor with only 3G access and in some locations despite having 4G connectivity, it is very unstable.
“We hope that having 5G in the future would help exponentially turn Labuan into a preferred tourist destination,” he told the New Straits Times.
He said boosting connectivity in Labuan was the outcome of the meeting Labuan Corp had with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Al-Ishsal Ishak and his team after seeking advice from the Communication and Multimedia Ministry.
“They promise to assist Labuan Corp to upgrade and speed up the development Labuan’s telecommunication infrastructure this year to improve connectivity,” he said.
Other than 5G, Amir Hussein said Labuan Corp had also requested for special licences - application service provider (ASP) and the internet service provider (ISP) - to MCMC to boost connectivity.
“We hope they will consider. This will help the deployment of fiberisation connectivity. Out of 27 villages only 10 villages have unifi home pass. We hope all villages will be given the priority. This is in line with the government’s fiberization 2023 agenda.”
Meanwhile, last week, it was reported that Labuan Corp had tendered out three prominent development projects.
The projects involve the popular tourism spot of Pulau Papan, the esplanade by the old fisheries jetty on Jalan Merdeka in the downtown area, and the RM86 million Labuan Halal Hub Complex.