Heaptalk, Jakarta — Malaysian global energy group Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) announced the launch of its 5G private network for enterprise use, the first in the country (10/06). The adoption aims to optimize the company’s internal operations and drive change across the industry.
The 5G technology has been deployed at the Petronas Regasification Terminal Sungai Udang (RGTSU) in Melaka with support from the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The adoption of this 5G private network is expected to open up opportunities for collaborative development between the government, the private sector, and academia to explore the potential of the technology.
Attending the inauguration of the 5G private network adoption, Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah conveyed that the government’s focus will be on developing local talent in an effort to produce adequate digital skills and expertise through the country’s economic policy framework and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP 2030).
Fadillah complimented Petronas for their foresight and commitment to the country’s progress. He also commended KKD Minister Fahmi Fadzil for his commitment and focus on steering the country’s 5G efforts. “As we embark on this transformative journey, it’s crucial to acknowledge the integral role cutting-edge technologies play, 5G’s fast connectivity, low latency, and capacity to handle massive data flows will empower our industries to innovate, compete and excel on a global scale,” said Fadillah as cited on Petronas official page (10/06).
Targeting 80% 5G network coverage by the end of 2023
Meanwhile, Senior Vice President of Project Delivery and Technology at MCMC Datuk Bacho said that the deployment of the 5G private network at RGTSU Melaka has improved operational efficiency and safety, supporting the company’s business and sustainability targets.
“Our strategic adoption of 5G technology sets us ahead in the energy industry. By combining 5G with the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and automation, we’re putting Open PETRONAS as among the leaders in the global technological race, while ensuring we meet the demands of supplying safe, reliable, cost-optimised and emission abated energy solutions for Malaysia and our customers globally,” voiced Datuk Bacho.
Currently, MCMC is collaborating with mobile service providers to deploy 5G private networks to foster more usage across industries in Malaysia. As of September 2023, Malaysia’s 5G network coverage in populated areas stands at 70.2% with 5G subscriptions totaling 2.49 million, equivalent to a 7.4% penetration rate. The country is targeting 80% 5G network coverage in populated areas by the end of 2023.
