COMMUNICATIONS and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said 73% of the country’s populated areas had 5G coverage.

He said based on Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) feedback, the government was on track to achieve its 80% coverage target by year-end.

But Fahmi said DNB raised several issues, including land-related problems, in which local authorities’ assistance were needed.

He said he told Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Mohamad Salim Fateh Din to call a meeting to resolve the issues.

“This is so all parties understand that 5G is a national initiative and a joint effort to accelerate progress and development in the country,” he told reporters after his ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya today.

Fahmi said as of September, the adoption rate of 5G in Malaysia was 9.1%, from 7.4% previously.

He said the true potential of 5G could be realised if micro, small and medium enterprises better understand its concept.

“We have to ensure the government’s effort to create this data highway is utilised as best as possible not only by large companies but also mid-sized ones,” he said.

Fahmi said he had visited a DHL warehouse centre that used 5G for robotics and drone services, and among the responses received was that the company could count almost 8,000 pallets per day using 5G technology compared with only 1,000 pallets per day if counted manually. – Bernama, November 7, 2023.