KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 18): 5G network coverage in Malaysia reached 33.2% of populated areas as of Sept 30, and is on track to achieve the 80% target set by the government by 2024, said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

MCMC chief operating officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus said that of the 1,915 sites completed for 5G rollout so far, 1,070 sites were onboarded with 5G coverage, including Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Johor and Perak.

A total of 3,518 sites have been targeted for completion in 2022, according to the National Digital Network (Jendela) report for the third quarter of 2022 released on Tuesday (Oct 18).

The 5G rollout plan has been carried out since December 2021, with MCMC aiming for 37.9% coverage for populated areas by the end of 2022.

Mohd Ali Hanafiah said MCMC had charted 1,558 sites in Selangor planned for the 5G rollout, with 886 completed sites and 513 onboarded sites, making Selangor the state with the most onboarded sites with 5G.

Brefing the media on the Jendela Phase 1 performance for the third quarter, he said 7.44 million premises had been passed with fibre connectivity, compared with the target of 7.5 million premises.

Meanwhile, 95.82% of all populated areas have access to 4G network.

Additionally, Mohd Ali Hanafiah said the target mean broadband speed has increased to 52.48Mbps, from its initial target of 35Mbps.

“We are confident that we can achieve the targets for Jendela Phase 1 when the time comes,” he said, adding that the Jendela implementation committee has been reminded to expedite the roll-out of infrastructure and services.

The MCMC chief said there were ongoing discussions with various states and local councils to ensure a standardised procedure for a smooth and speedy process of building towers and laying cables.

“[Currently,] it differs from one state to another and within a state, it differs from one local council to another. So, we are trying to standardise the processes involved and the fees and costing they are charging,” Mohd Ali Hanafiah said.

Launched in 2020, Jendela was set up to develop the nation’s mobile and fixed broadband infrastructure and services. Phase 2 (2023-2025) aims at improving connectivity with 100% coverage in populated areas and raising broadband access to nine million premises.