Recent press announcements from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the regulator for the converging communications and multimedia industry in Malaysia, indicate a ramping up of 5G activity in the country.
The recently published Final Report on the allocation of spectrum bands for mobile broadband service in Malaysia identified 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz and 26/28 GHz as the pioneer spectrum bands for the rollout of 5G in the country.
The report states that the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands are being considered for allocation to a single entity comprising a consortium formed by multiple licensees, instead of individual licensees, while the 24.9 GHz to 26.5 GHz frequency bands will be assigned through a tender process.
The 26.5 GHz to 28.1 GHz frequency bands will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis and will be open to any party (including non-licensees) for the purpose of deploying localised and/or private networks. Commercial deployment of 5G in Malaysia is expected to begin by the third quarter of 2020.
In a follow-up announcement this week a report from The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) on the economic impact of 5G implementation in Malaysia is quoted as predicting that the implementation of 5G would contribute up to RM12.7 billion (about $3.1 billion) between 2021 and 2025 to the nation’s economy and create more than 39,000 new job opportunities during the period.
Meanwhile MCMC is reportedly organising what it calls the 5G Malaysia International Conference on 20 January 2020, featuring speakers and panellists from Malaysia and around the world.
