KUALA LUMPUR, 14 AUGUST 2023 – Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), in partnership with Asia Pacific University (APU), Streamline Studios, and Ministry XR, recently organised an industry webinar that brought together leading companies in the Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Extended Reality (XR) space, including Multimedia University, Creatinno Tech Solutions, Youniverse Games, Spark Capital Development, Innoveam, Vortex XR Lab, and Syndes Technologies. This collaboration led to the creation of four distinct workstreams, each with dedicated staff members and specific objectives.

The primary goal of this collective effort is to nurture and support the burgeoning industry of XR-based applications, which are projected to be worth $1.2 trillion by 2035^[1]. XRHub, a partnership of Malaysian software companies equipped with XR capabilities, aims to catalyse the growth of IT firms specialising in the development of innovative XR applications across various sectors, including Healthcare, Energy, Gaming, and more. This initiative is a response to the projected surge in demand for XR-based applications.

The workstreams encompass providing valuable tooling advice for the development of XR apps, conducting an in-depth analysis of market opportunities in XR development, establishing an interactive XRHub website for seamless information exchange and community development, as well as curating comprehensive training materials specifically tailored for VR/AR/XR software developers. This multi-faceted approach ensures the holistic development and advancement of XR technologies.

This follows the successful launch of the eXtended Realities XRHub on June 7th, which saw over 40 participants from the tech industry. It served as a catalyst for driving the adoption of immersive technologies in Malaysia. XR technology, which encompasses Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR), has the potential to revolutionise how we perceive and interact with the world.

XR technology is already making waves across various sectors, from gaming to entertainment, energy to manufacturing, and healthcare. However, this technology requires high bandwidth and low latency connectivity to unleash its full potential. This is where 5G technology emerges as a critical enabler and strides in to enable the creation of unique environments, experiences, and interactions as part of the User Interface.

Johan Krebbers, Head of Emerging Technologies at Digital Nasional Berhad, said, "Just as smartphones revolutionised the tech industry, XR has the potential to reshape our world. We aim to raise awareness across Malaysian Software Companies and foster software development and capabilities within the rapidly expanding XR field, fuelling growth and innovation in this promising domain."

Richard Cheah, the Managing Director of Streamline Studios Malaysia, asserts that XR technology has the potential to revolutionise industries beyond gaming. As technology continues to advance, XR is becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives and finding applications in various sectors such as training, upscaling, marketing, and bridging distances. Although there are still some limitations to be overcome, the widespread adoption of XR is inevitable. Andrew Yew, the Chief Technology Officer of Ministry XR, further elaborated on the benefits of XR technology. According to him, XR enhances our daily experiences by seamlessly integrating into our lives, eliminating the need for complex hardware and interfaces. With intuitive user interfaces and a calm presentation of information, computers become virtually invisible, facilitating seamless communication between users and the system.

The XR Hub in Malaysia aims to establish a vibrant ecosystem for software development in the immersive technologies sector. Its goal is for Malaysian companies to meet the growing demand for immersive solutions. The XR Hub provides a platform for meaningful interactions among ecosystem players, conducts training sessions to enhance local companies' software development capabilities, promotes knowledge sharing, and showcases exemplary XR developments. By fostering collaborations and adopting international standards, the XR Hub strives to create a thriving ecosystem that supports and nurtures software development growth in Malaysia.

About Digital Nasional Berhad

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) is a Minister of Finance Inc. company, mandated to deploy Malaysia’s 5G network and infrastructure on an accelerated schedule. DNB will exclusively own, build and manage the 5G network and provide wholesale 5G services to licensed service providers, as well as infrastructure and technology services to support and enable businesses and government capabilities. DNB is licensed as a telecommunications operator by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Please visit https://www.digital-nasional.com.my for more information.

Digital Nasional Berhad Media Contact:

Nurul Dayanna Norji
Manager, Corporate Communications
dayanna.norji@digital-nasional.com.my

Irwan Abdul Rahman
Head, Corporate Communications
irwan.rahman@digital-nasional.com.my