KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should have a specific plan on how to connect the incoming 5G network to schools nationwide, said education specialist Dr Vincent Chian.
The current sound bites on 5G in Malaysia have been restricted to the telcos and Digital Nasional Bhd.
Chian, a co-owner at Fairview International School, has extensive hands on experience in managing connectivity having overseen the integration of the schools five branches across Peninisular Malaysia as well as affiliatess in other parts of Southeast Asia and Europe.
He believes that the 5G conversation must be extended and expanded with a specific plan on connectivity to schools across Malaysia .
"There will be instances where the commercial 5G grid may bypass certain areas or the signal too weak for condusive learning to take place," said Chian.
One option will be to open up a specific spectrum for education, similar to what the United States had done in 2020, when the lockdowns started taking place.
"Authorised access was given to schools and other institutions of learning to reserve unused channel's within the CBRS radio frequency spectrum," said Chian.
He added that once this had been identied, the ogvernment would fund the schools for the last mile connection.
Theoretically and in practice, one should learn from the recent experience in the US, Chian noted.
In the US, there is a set up named OnGo Alliance, which bands together some 185 major companies.
Just about every major player with an interest in wireless networking from Facebook and Google as well as ISP's such as Comcast are members of this alliance.
Altogether, there some 2,500 companies in the US which are certified professional CBRS installers.
"If you go through the mission and vision of this alliance, what stands out is they want to address connectivity issues across education, hospitality and healthcare. These are the areas either on commercial or on social development basis, have been in practice and are a high priority for Malaysia," said Chian.
He added that for optimal connection to schools, there needs to be a mix and match between the macro and micro players.
Interest and the current conversation taking place here on 5G did not seem to be addressing the elephant in the room, he said.