BUTTERWORTH, October 17 2026, The Communications Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will assess whether telecommunications coverage targets should be expanded to include key economic areas such as ports, railway lines and highways.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the existing Coverage of Populated Area (CoPA) measurement should be reviewed to address connectivity needs in areas that may have few or no residents but are essential to economic activities.
He said Malaysia would also raise the proposal at international platforms, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meeting in Doha in November, to explore extending 5G and future telecommunications technologies beyond populated areas.
Fahmi was speaking to reporters after launching the Penang Port Private 5G initiative at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) today.
The initiative makes Penang Port the first port in Malaysia to adopt a private 5G network through a collaboration between Altel Communications Sdn Bhd and Penang Port.
Fahmi said reliable connectivity was increasingly important for industrial operations and that telecommunications infrastructure should serve economic hubs alongside residential areas.
He added that private 5G networks could benefit manufacturing and logistics operations, particularly multinational companies operating in Malaysia. The technology enables numerous devices to connect simultaneously and supports machinery requiring high precision.
The ministry will prepare a Cabinet memorandum on the proposal and work with the Transport Ministry to explore expanding 5G deployment to other ports nationwide.
Fahmi also noted that the Communications Ministry and MCMC had previously collaborated with the Transport Ministry to address internet connectivity gaps along major railway routes operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB).
He explained that private 5G networks provide dedicated connectivity for critical industrial operations, unlike conventional 5G networks, where users share network capacity.
Fahmi said wider adoption of private 5G by businesses, including manufacturers and oil palm plantation operators, could improve operational efficiency and workplace safety.
-BERNAMA
