After Singapore, Ericsson launches 5G Advanced in Malaysia

Digital Nasional Berhad will be one of the first networks to provide Ericsson’s 5G Advanced capability to enterprises in Malaysia.

Ericsson’s 5G Advanced technology is now available in Malaysia on Digital Nasional Berhad’s network. DNB will be one of the first networks to provide this capability to enterprises in Malaysia.

Ericsson’s 5G Advanced is the next generation of 5G connectivity whereby the technology is capable of providing ultra-low latency for use cases, providing a consistent and superior user experience, both commercially and for businesses as well.

At the launch event in Kuala Lumpur, David Hagerbro, Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, said, ”5G Advanced capability has been switched on for the DNB network. Ericsson will continue to jointly develop 5G Advanced capabilities strategically with DNB to make the network even more intelligent, efficient and secure. DNB is already a global leader in 5G and the launch of the 5G Advanced capability will enable it to strengthen its position.”

When asked how different the 5G Advanced capabilities will be compared to Ericsson’s current 5G offering, Hagerbro said 5G Advanced makes the network much faster by using AI, enabling better customer experience.

“It will make sure that we can use new devices, like low-cost devices, like IoT, where you maybe need tens of thousands of devices. It’s not just mobile phones. It’s a low-cost, low-power type of device [that enterprises use]. With AI, we can also reduce the energy efficiency, so the OPEX will go down. The operation of the network will be much more efficient,” said Hagerbro.

On how AI works on the network, Hagerbro explained that the AI will automate how the connectivity is provided in a smarter way. It’s optimizing the network resources in a more optimal way to be able to provide a better customer experience and also using it in a more energy efficient way, he said.

Lowering network cost

Ericsson 5G Advanced solutions, such as RedCap, enable a wider range of use cases by extending battery life and reducing complexity for devices like wearables and industry sensors. For businesses, this means better IoT deployments, improved operational efficiencies, and a more affordable way to innovate. 5G Advanced also brings intent-based solutions like Automated Energy Saver, part of Ericsson's Energy Efficiency and Management subscription, to maximize energy performance.

“I think the unique thing with 5G is that before, if you needed connectivity for an industry, the way to do it before was that you built a physical network for that industry. That's very time-consuming and costs a lot of money, and it's also very difficult to maintain.

Because after you have built the network, who will maintain it? What you can do with 5G and with network slicing is that you instead provide that connectivity software-wise. So, you don't need to build up physical infrastructure. It's a virtualized network that basically can provide connectivity for a factory without building up connectivity for a factory,” said Hagerbro when asked if AI could also be used for network slicing capabilities on the 5G Advanced network.

In terms of costs, Hagerbro pointed out that 5G Advanced will result is cost reduction for enterprises as compared to the current 5G offering.

“You can deliver more data efficiently. It's not more expensive per gigabyte. It's cheaper per gigabyte,” added Hagerbro.

At the end of December 2024, Malaysia has recorded 18.2 million 5G service subscriptions, representing a 53.4% adoption rate. DNB continues to advocate for 5G adoption amongst the public, enterprises and businesses through collaborative and strategic partnerships as well as awareness of educational programs.

DNB's CEO, Datuk Azman Ismail, stated, “Our 5G network is globally recognized for its performance and reliability. With 5G Advanced, DNB aims to help accelerate the digitalization journey of enterprises working with our access seekers in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, oil and gas, agriculture, and tourism with advanced tools to innovate and deliver superior products and services.”

Minister of Digital, YB Gobind Singh Deo also expressed his hope that this enhancement of Malaysia’s 5G network will encourage more 5G adoption amongst users, especially enterprises. “Accelerating 5G adoption across various enterprises is vital for Malaysia's digital transformation. It not only positions Malaysia as a 5G leader during our ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 but also bolsters our influence on digital investments and benefits in the region.”

Prior to the availability of 5G Advanced in Malaysia, Ericsson had also announced a partnership with Singtel in November 2024 to deploy 5G advanced connectivity solutions at Singapore’s Tuas Port. This is in support of PSA Singapore’s plans to build the world’s largest fully automated port by the 2040s to meet the rapidly rising demand for global transshipment.

Singtel will activate a network slice from its 5G network to provide the dedicated resources, like high speeds, high bandwidth, and low latency, needed for mission-critical applications to run smoothly.

Interestingly, Ericsson is not the first 5G Advanced network provider in Malaysia. In March 2024 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Malaysian telecommunications giant Maxis and Huawei Technologies inked a MoU to work on a 5G-Advanced acceleration program. This includes various areas to drive commercialization and adoption in Malaysia, spanning use cases, key technologies, technology evolution, and the ecosystem.

Both companies successfully showcased the first 5.5G or 5G-Advanced technology trial in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The trials included a single-user live speed test to demonstrate 5.5G capabilities to achieve ultra-fast peak speeds of up to 8Gbps, in line with the promise of 5G-Advanced technology.