KUALA LUMPUR: The highly anticipated 5G network services are expected to be readily available by December this year, according to Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB).
DNB chief executive officer Ralph Marshall said users would be able to experience the services first hand in Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, initially.
He said the deployment of 5G infrastructure and network was feasible on the back of DNB's adoption to integrate its 5G multi-operator core network (MOCN) with mobile network operators (MNOs), emphasising the sharing of both network infrastructure and valuable spectrum resources.
"MOCN functionality allows a network operator to provide access to a single radio access network by a number of other operators. Each operator operates its own core network, including one or more independent nodes.
"Each of these multiple core networks can communicate with each other as peers through the software," Marshall said at the demonstration of the integration of DNB's 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) with more than two of Malaysia's MNOs here today.
Once 5G services are officially launched in end-2021, end users with 5G-compatible devices will be able to enjoy Internet speed at a minimum 100 Mbps.
"Today I witnessed the seamless integration between DNB's 5G radio network with each MNO's existing core platforms, which will eliminate costly duplication in infrastructure investments and is expected to drive lower 5G prices to end users.
"This will further enable the accelerated adoption of 5G services in Malaysia and narrow the digital divide," Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said.
Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh David Hägerbro said the 5G MOCN integration with more than two MNOs on the DNB network was a historical milestone, not only for the Malaysian mobile telecommunications industry, but also globally.
"5G MOCN integration so far has involved only two MNOs. The fact that more than two MNO core networks can share the same RAN and bandwidth is a testimony to Ericsson's 5G deployment expertise as well as a significant milestone in Ericsson's delivery of the 5G network in Malaysia, reinforcing our commitment to providing the most optimised 5G experience for both consumers and enterprises in Malaysia," Hägerbro added.