THE Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced today that the national implementation of 5G technology will contribute up to RM12.7 billion to the nation’s economy over the next five years.

MCMC chairman Al-Ishsal Ishak said the growth was expected to take place in 2021 to 2025.

“Not only will it (5G) contribute to the nation’s economy, it will also create more than 39,000 new job opportunities,” he said at MCMC headquarters in Cyberjaya.

Al-Ishal said to encourage the development of the 5G ecosystem, grants with an initial allocation of RM50 million were set aside.

This, he said, was to stimulate 5G use by the public and private sectors across industries such as automotive, manufacturing, public safety, education, agriculture, tourism, entertainment and media.

To achieve the target, MCMC has formed a consortium with telecommunication companies Celcom Axiata Berhad, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Edotco Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Petroliam Nasional Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd.

On December 31, MCMC announced the final report on the allocation of spectrum bands for mobile broadband services in Malaysia in relation to 700MHz, 2300MHz and 2600MHz spectrum bands.

MCMC has identified the 700MHz, 3.5GHz and 26/28GHz spectrum bands as the pioneer bands for the 5G rollout. 

The consortium is currently running 5G demonstration projects in six states involving an initial investment of RM143 million.

A national 5G task force comprising 114 representatives from service providers, academia and government agencies was set up in November 2018.

The task force will present its final report to Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo at the 5G Malaysia International Conference at Langkawi on January 20.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is scheduled to launch the 5G Malaysia demonstration projects in Langkawi on January 19, followed by a visit to selected use case sites, including 5G command centres in Kuah, Sultanah Maliha Hospital and Langkawi International Airport. – January 9, 2020.