KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) is partnering with Digi Telecommunications Sdn.Bhd (Digi) on testing the capabilities, possibilities and limitations of 5G network sharing between multiple network service operators during the 5GDP period.
TM said the partnership reflects the synergy between fixed and mobile network operators in delivering 5G connectivity solutions.
“Under this partnership, Digi is currently operating its 5GDP sites (including on-site 5G radio network and 5G core network) in Langkawi to run its 5G use cases, supported by TM in providing fibre backhaul to these sites.
“Additionally, both parties are also exploring 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing in Langkawi,” it said.
TM group chief executive officer Datuk Noor Kamarul Annuar Nuruddin said the collaboration reflects TM's commitment, openness and neutrality to work together with industry players, towards achieving the government’s aspiration for a more cost effective 5G deployment.
“We aspire to not only enable the ecosystem but also plan to be a neutral partner for industry players and collaboration partners towards serving a more digital society and lifestyle, digital businesses and industry verticals, as well as digital government.
The collaboration is also hoped to accelerate the delivery of 5G services nationwide and bring enormous benefits to end customers as we strive to deploy 5G services to Malaysians nationwide, in line with MCMC’s aspiration in progressing humanity towards improving the quality of lives of the Rakyat,” said Noor Kamarul.
He said being part of the 5GDP enabled it to demonstrate its capabilities to deploy 5G in Malaysia, where it had rolled-out the first 5G Standalone (SA) dedicated network in the country.
“TM, via our innovative and comprehensive products and solutions will continue to lay the foundation for Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) and enabling Internet of Things (IoT) – to serve a more digital society and lifestyle, digital businesses and industry verticals, as well as digital Government,” he added.
Concurring on the importance of industry-level collaboration for 5G, Digi chief executive officer Albern Murty said through its partnership with TM, Digi continued to be committed to build a robust 5G ecosystem with the industry.
“We have always viewed partnerships as a positive way to deliver efficient and widespread access to Malaysians, and work is well underway with several of Digi’s use case trials deployed through numerous partnerships in Langkawi and the 5G OpenLab in Cyberjaya.
“The findings we gather from these trials will help determine how we can rollout 5G in a more concerted way across industry, echoing MCMC’s ambitions towards a shared approach in deploying 5G for the country,” said Murty.
In Langkawi, Digi has implemented two 5G use cases, namely virtual tourism at the Langkawi International Airport, and real-time medical data transfer and connected ambulance at Hospital Sultanah Maliha.
“TM has already embarked on a total of 11 use cases in Langkawi covering Smart City, Smart Tourism and Smart Agriculture clusters, focusing on making life easier, meeting the needs, and enriching the lives of the rakyat.
“Malaysia’s 5GDP kickstarted in October 2019, with the aim to facilitate, build and nurture development of promising use cases of 5G in a live but controlled environment; and in a broader context, grow the 5G ecosystem in Malaysia,” TM added.