KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is roping in South Korea’s mega conglomerate, SK Group, to realise its smart cities ambition.
This will see Cyberjaya being the first smart city in Malaysia to boast 5G technology and other smart city infrastructures.
Government-owned Cyberview Sdn Bhd yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with SK Group to develop Blue Ocean Smart Cities in the country, starting with Cyberjaya.
The move came following Malaysia’s partnership with Ali-baba Group to set up a traffic control system harnessing artificial intelligence for Kuala Lumpur.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the country’s partnership with SK Group on smart cities would be based on new concepts, emphasising big data and allowing key players to participate.
“The necessary conditions, incentives and support have been put in place.
“SK Group’s expertise in this area, combined with Cyberview’s strategic vision for building smart cities, will help to deliver transformative change in the infrastructure, technology and, crucially, the livability of our cities,” he said at the signing ceremony here yesterday.
“It is our hope that the Blue Ocean Smart City in Cyberjaya will serve as a model smart city solution that can be adopted in other urban centres across Malaysia and well beyond.”
SK Group’s unit, SK Telecom chief executive officer Park Jung-ho said the firm intended to test its 5G technology in Cyberjaya and South Korea by the end of the year.
He said the company was looking forward to working with telecommunications companies in Malaysia.
“(We hope) the (Malaysian) government can provide a spectrum for 5G, because for us to roll out this technology, we need the right equipment and infrastructure.
“We expect to test 5G in South Korea later this year and hope
to do so simultaneously in Malaysia.
“This is because you (the government) provide a more open environment, especially in terms of legislation (for this technology).”