KULIM: The Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) is set to attract global hi-tech players after the rolling out of full 5G wireless network coverage by the first quarter of 2023.
State Information, Communications and Multimedia Committee chairman Datuk Wan Romani Wan Salim said the project, spearheaded by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), will make KTHP the first industrial park in Kedah to have full 5G wireless network coverage.
"DNB has identified eight locations in KHTP. Seven are existing telco towers. One new telco tower will be built soon. They will cover the entire 1,916.6ha of KHTP from Phase 1 to Phase 4.
"Up to Dec 13, four towers have been activated to receive 5G network coverage. The remaining towers will be activated in stages by the first quarter of 2023.
"The 5G network coverage will be a game-changer for mobile network communications and will create new industries that will benefit Kedah's economy," he said after launching the 5G coverage for KHTP at the KHTP Business Centre here today.
Present were Kulim Technology Park Corporation Sdn Bhd (KTPC) group chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sahil Zabidi, state MCMC office director Mazlan Othman and DNB head of launching and placement K. Magendran.
Wan Romani expressed the state government's appreciation to DNB, MCMC and KTPC as the developer and manager of KHTP for expediting the rolling out of 5G network services.
"The rolling out of the 5G network in Kedah was supposed to begin in 2023 and scheduled to be completed by 2025.
"But the state asked DNB to expedite the process as KHTP is a strategic high-tech industrial park in Kedah that has attracted RM125 billion in approved investment," said Wan Romani, who is also state Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Committee chairman.
He said the rolling out of the 5G network would pave the way for KPTC to develop KHTP into a full-fledged smart city, which would be expanded to other industrial and urban areas in Kedah.
He said 376 sites in the state had been identified for the rollout of the 5G network coverage under Phase 2a and 2b, a process that began in the third quarter of 2022 and will run until 2025, with more than two million people in the state set to benefit.
"The immediate focus will be on industrial and urban areas, such as Kuala Muda, involving 115 sites; Kota Setar, 88 sites; Kulim, 52 sites; Kubang Pasu, 48 sites; Langkawi, 44 sites; and, Yan, 12 sites.
"The other districts are Baling, eight sites; Bandar Baharu, four sites; Pendang, two sites; Pokok Sena, two sites; and Sik, one site."
Sahil said the rolling out of the 5G network would be a catalyst to boost the production, efficiency and productivity of KHTP's tenants, in line with the development of Internet of Things and the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
"We strongly believe the rolling out of the 5G network will provide an advantage for us to attract new investors to KHTP.
"We have been getting very encouraging enquiries from potential investors, especially after they were informed that we are rolling out 5G network coverage for the entire KHTP area."
He said the 5G network would bring direct benefits to the KHTP community living in the area.
"We are talking about enhancing the learning process at our schools, higher learning institutions, as well as our healthcare services.
"Just imagine. With 5G network, specialist surgeons from overseas will be able to guide doctors at our hospital here in surgeries."