Ericsson-Digital Nasional 5G partnership timely, in line with 12MP objectives

KUALA LUMPUR: The partnership between Ericsson (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Digital Nasional Bhd on deploying the nationwide fifth generation (5G) network is expected to fulfil the objective of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for the digital economy to emerge as a significant contributor to the economy.

Given that the 5G technology would be launched by the end of 2021, it would set the stage for the digital economy to bridge the digital divide, expand and contribute 25.5 per cent to the gross domestic product by 2025, as espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob when tabling the 12MP on Sept 27, 2021.

DNB chief executive officer Ralph Marshall said the government-owned special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up to build, own and operate Malaysia's 5G infrastructure is committed to delivering the best technology and innovation opportunities for Malaysians, businesses and government to ensure Malaysia takes its place at the forefront of the global digital economy.

"We identified Ericsson to offer the best next-generation 5G technology and professional services available to suit DNB's specific and unique requirements," he said in a statement today.

Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh David Hagerbro said 5G is a platform for open innovation and is becoming the cornerstone upon which a country's competitiveness is built.

"Malaysia's and DNB's commitment to accelerating the deployment of 5G will speed up the adoption of 5G nationally, bridge the digital divide and transform the nation.

"The deployment of 5G will help facilitate the government's ambition to promote Malaysians to become technology creators through the development of 5G applications and use cases," he said.

He also said that with a 56-year legacy of contributing to Malaysia's development, Ericsson's global 5G leadership and strong deployment capabilities would meet the deployment targets set by DNB.

Malaysia and its economy are also poised to benefit from the 10-year 5G partnership between Ericsson and DNB as it would drive the nationwide deployment of the next-generation wireless cellular technology in Malaysia.

Even more so, 5G's speed, low-latency, and large-data-handling capabilities are expected to digitally transform the nation, while creating a 5G ecosystem that will power innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and automation across a range of enterprise, industry and multi-sector Internet of Things (IoT) use cases.

By utilising the capabilities of 5G and accelerating the deployment of Malaysia's nationwide 5G network and ecosystem, Marshall said DNB will provide access and services to mobile service providers and others licensed by the regulators, to enable a world-class 5G experience and make Industry 4.0 a reality in Malaysia.

As outlined by the prime minister in the 12MP, Ericsson's participation in the national 5G project will see direct and indirect socio-economic contributions in areas such as job creation, partnership with Bumiputera and other local contractors and ecosystem players, and knowledge and capacity building in Malaysia.

DNB's exclusive partnership with Ericsson spans the delivery of energy-efficient Ericsson Radio System products and solutions, including Ericsson Spectrum Sharing, a software for wide-area 5G coverage.

The scope also includes cloud-native 5G Core and 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) nationwide.

Hagerbro said Ericsson will also manage the unique requirements of a single wholesale network with its leading managed services offering, Ericsson Operations Engine.

The solution will enhance the performance of DNB's network using AI, automation and cognitive software to predict and prevent issues.

Ericsson's end-to-end scope also includes operational support systems (OSS) and business support systems (BSS) solutions.

Marshall said DNB is tasked with helping Malaysia to achieve its digital aspirations as outlined in the government's MyDIGITAL blueprint, which plans to transform Malaysia into a digitally-driven, high-income nation and a leader in digital content, cyber security and digital economy in the Southeast Asia region.

DNB also supports the modernisation of the nation's mobile networks as part of the national digital infrastructure plan (JENDELA) to ensure every Malaysian has quality internet connectivity.

The SPV aims to launch Malaysia's first 5G network in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya in the initial phase.

Ericsson's local presence and deployment expertise are key to meeting DNB's target of 80 per cent 5G nationwide population coverage by 2024.

A global 5G leader with 97 5G networks operating live across 46 countries, Ericsson has helped businesses go digital, enhance efficiency and find new revenue streams, which is exactly among the strategies in 12MP needed for Malaysia to extricate itself from the current economic crisis.

-- BERNAMA