PUTRAJAYA: The 5G network coverage in Malaysia has now reached 73% of populated areas, says the Communications and Digital Minister.

Fahmi Fadzil said that based on feedback from Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the government was on the right track to achieving the 80% coverage in populated areas target by the end of the year.

He added that with only 7% remaining to reach the target, there were several issues raised by DNB, including land-related issues.

Fahmi said he had informed Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din to meet with relevant parties to resolve the pending issues.

"This is so that all parties understand that 5G is a national initiative and a joint effort to accelerate progress and development in the country," he said after his ministry's monthly assembly on Tuesday (Nov 11).

Fahmi said as of September 2023, the adoption rate of 5G in Malaysia was 9.1%.

Commenting further on the adoption of 5G, Fahmi said he had visited a DHL warehouse centre that used 5G for robotics and drone services, and among the responses received was that the company could count almost 8,000 pellets per day using 5G technology compared to 1,000 pellets per day if counted manually.- Bernama