- Maxis and Huawei will lead Malaysia’s first 5.5G trial, revolutionizing connectivity in the region.
- The potential to strengthen Malaysian business and encourage investment is huge.
- Maxis will enhance its communications environment with Huawei’s 5.5G technology and strategic investments.
Maxis and Huawei are leading the way in the region’s first 5G advanced technology trials in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Dubbed the 5G-Advanced Trial Showcase, the ground-breaking test featured a live demonstration of the technology’s capabilities reaching incredible peak speeds of up to 8Gbps.
5G-Advanced, also known as 5.5G, will improve connectivity with improved speed, device connectivity, and latency, delivering up to 10x enhancements compared to standard 5G.
The showcase was attended by Communications Minister Jan Belholmat Fahmi Fazil and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chairman Jan Belbahangia Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.
The event showcased digital and connectivity innovations with a focus on demonstrating the power of 5G advanced technology. The experiment, held at KLCC The Place, was the country’s first 5.5G technology trial.
Maxis and Huawei are committed to digital excellence
The demonstration area brought the technology to life with interactive features such as low-latency live streaming from Kuala Lumpur city center, live 3D content, and augmented reality (AR) experiences.
Tan Sri Mohamad Salim bin Fateh Din highlighted the importance of this trial which showcases the potential of Malaysia’s telecommunications sector to significantly enhance communications connectivity.
Tan Sri Mohamad Salim bin Fateh Din expressed the desire for more industry players to innovate and help Malaysian companies climb the value chain with next-generation solutions. . He expects Malaysia to become a global communications leader.
Maxis CEO Goh Seow Eng highlighted the technology’s potential to power smart solutions across various sectors. He was keen to dig deep into this technology for industrial advancement and national digital goals.
Simon Sun, CEO of Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, shared insights on Huawei’s efforts in R&D and validation of key 5.5G technologies and business cases. He announced the launch of Malaysia’s first 5.5G showcase, positioning the country as a regional leader in digital infrastructure and an attractive location for foreign investment.
5.5G technology is poised to enable significant advances in digitization, automation, and Internet of Things (IoT) across multiple sectors.
These advances are expected to drive the digital transformation of key industries such as high-end manufacturing, automotive, smart transportation, and advanced visual communications through 3D and augmented reality (XR). Additionally, 5G-Advanced will facilitate the development of cost-effective IoT solutions.
Strategic investment and industry collaboration
The move to unveil Malaysia’s first 5.5G technology trial is significant as Maxis is known for accelerating the 5G market, which gained attention last year. For example, Maxis’ move to invest in his 5G network operator Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) reflects the industry’s recognition of the platform’s cost efficiency and fair access.
According to BMI Country Risk and Industry Research, a Fitch Solutions company, telecom companies are better off co-investing in a shared platform than building separate networks and managing expensive interconnection agreements. He agrees that it is economical.
BMI noted the decision in a report last year, citing rising inflation and the impact on existing mobile business as contributing factors. Malaysian Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil announced on July 11, 2023 that Maxis has begun the process of entering into a 5G access agreement with DNB, following the resolution of several issues.
BMI observed that the government’s decision to offer DNB shares to telcos has enabled them to participate in key commercial decisions such as vendor selection, infrastructure deployment schedules, and pricing strategies. . Maxis’ decision to join other major telcos in investing in DNB marks a shift away from lobbying against the DNB scheme and the proposed secondary 5G network, which may not be commercially viable. This indicates a reluctance to invest in the market.
BMI also posits that the new 5G network could act as a neutral carrier and attract smaller entities and virtual service providers. The company predicts that there will be 33.8 million 5G connections in Malaysia by 2032, accounting for 75.3% of the total mobile user base, many of which will support Internet of Things applications.
Improved customer experience with upgraded services
In addition to these strategic moves, Maxis is strengthening its service offering. Starting December 14, 2023, customers of Maxis’ new unlimited postpaid plans will automatically receive a free upgrade that provides additional 5G data. This upgrade changes his previous 5G data allocation and increases it significantly across different plan tiers.
This enhancement follows Maxis’ introduction of new unlimited postpaid plans with 5G data in August. For customers using legacy plans, Maxis recommends switching to a new plan to access his 5G services, but a temporary his 5G access pass until you upgrade your plan. is available for free.
The 5.5G trial is set to gain international attention at the 2024 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, where it will be showcased at the Malaysia Pavilion and supported by MCMC. As a leading Malaysian company, Maxis will represent the country at his MWC 2024, a major global event in the connectivity field.