KUALA LUMPUR: Nationwide project demonstrations for the 5G service network will begin next month, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said today.
He said the demonstrations will be expanded from the current five states used as 5G testbeds.
In April, 5G demonstrations were launched in Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.
“It is hoped with Malaysia’s early commitment towards 5G through network service testing across the country, we will be placed among the 5G adoption leaders in the world,” he said during his speech at the GSMA Mobile 360 Digital Societies conference here, today.
Initially, the 5G testbed demonstrations only involved five states - Selangor, Perak, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur and Kedah.
Gobind said his ministry is currently improving the availability and access of the digital infrastructure which is the basis for the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP).
The RM21.6 billion national connectivity plan is expected to be completed in five years, and would create 20,000 job opportunities for city and rural folks.
“The job opportunities will be on construction activities, maintenance and operation of the digital infrastructure.
“This would help increase the public’s perception towards the economic activities in the digital industry,” he said, adding that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), was also doing a study on the National Digital ID initiative,” he said.
The study, which started this month, is expected to identify a suitable framework before implementing the National Digital ID, which is aimed to protect a user’s private data when online.
According to the ministry, the National Digital ID is an advanced method of authenticating a user’s identity online and was announced on Aug 26.
Gobind said the move is important for the public to be more confident doing online transactions, apart from ensuring secure and updated methods which are safe and protect a user’s private information.