KUALA LUMPUR: The adoption of 5G Advanced, or Ultra 5G, technology offers significant potential to drive transformation across key sectors in Malaysia, including agriculture, retail and healthcare, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He said the technology, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, is capable of enhancing productivity and operational efficiency across these sectors.
“I see tremendous potential. It can help reduce congestion or ease the workload of nurses in hospital wards, while also improving productivity at oil palm plantations and beyond,” he told reporters after launching the U Mobile Enterprise Innovation Platform Hub here today.
In the retail sector, Fahmi said, Ultra 5G’s data analytics capabilities would enable businesses to manage inventories more efficiently and better identify consumer trends.
Meanwhile, Fahmi highlighted the potential use of drones powered by 5G networks for security surveillance, particularly along the country’s borders.
“I have been informed that in several places, 5G connectivity is already being utilised to support drone operations for monitoring purposes, including at border areas,” he said.
He said relevant agencies such as the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency and the Royal Malaysia Police should assess the suitability of implementing the technology.
He added that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is always ready to work with relevant ministries, including the Home Ministry, to improve internet coverage in border areas to support the deployment of such surveillance technology.
5G Advanced, also known as Ultra 5G, is the latest evolution of fifth-generation mobile networks, operating on a 5G Standalone architecture.
The technology offers enterprise-grade connectivity with ultra-low latency, network slicing capabilities, double the capacity and enhanced AI-powered security compared with earlier-generation 5G networks.
Earlier, in his speech at the launch of U Mobile Enterprise Innovation Platform Hub, Fahmi said industry players are encouraged to strengthen cybersecurity, promote responsible AI adoption, share best practices and build trusted digital capabilities that would benefit Malaysia for years to come.
He said as digital technologies become increasingly embedded across every sector of the economy, trust, security and resilience must advance in tandem with innovation.
“As more organisations embrace digital technologies, trust will become just as important as innovation,” he said at the launch of U Mobile Enterprise Innovation Platform Hub here today.
He said businesses must have confidence that the digital infrastructure they rely on is secure, while consumers must have confidence that their data is protected.
On the other hand, organisations must adopt artificial intelligence responsibly, transparently and ethically, Fahmi added.
“These are fundamental building blocks of a resilient digital economy,” he said.
Therefore, he said the government remains committed to strengthening cybersecurity, enhancing network resilience and promoting the responsible and ethical adoption of artificial intelligence to ensure sustainable and inclusive digital progress.
The Enterprise Innovation Platform Hub brought together enterprises, technology providers, innovators, academia and the public sector, establishing a collaborative ecosystem where ideas can be tested, solutions validated and emerging technologies commercialised more rapidly.
