This article appeared in The New Straits Times on 5 December 2022.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ericsson and Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) have achieved a world record distance for gigabit speeds over Malaysia's 5G network that will pave the way for high-quality, affordable and high-speed connectivity.

The test, conducted over the 28 gigahertz millimetre wave (mmWave) frequency, achieved a peak throughput of one gigabyte per second at a record distance of 11.18 kilometres from a radio antenna in Butterworth, Penang to a point off the island.

Ericsson noted in a statement that the new distance record showcased the ability of mmWave, with the support of Ericsson's extended-range software, to quickly deliver cost-effective, high-quality internet connectivity solutions via fixed wireless access (FWA) in areas where wired connections are not always economically feasible.

Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh David Hägerbro said the milestone achieved was a strong example of the world-class 5G network that Ericsson is providing in Malaysia.

The company added that this paved the way for local mobile network operators (MNOs) to provide better and wider connectivity to reach more consumers and enterprises.

The mmWave frequency, capable of delivering extremely fast speeds, high bandwidth and low latency, has seen limited use due to its inability to cover extended distances compared to the mid-band spectrum (3.5GHz in Malaysia).

However, Ericsson's extended-range software innovation enabled mmWave to support fixed wireless access (FWA) products over longer distances, as demonstrated in Penang.

This highlighted Ericsson's 5G technology expertise in overcoming distance challenges to deliver fibre-like speeds via FWA to areas beyond cities, paving the way for wider connectivity and accelerating Malaysia's digitalisation.

FWA was seen as a cost-effective alternative to fixed broadband, especially in rural and sub-urban areas where the deployment of fibre is either cost-prohibitive, time-consuming, or faced with terrain challenges.

This was further validated by the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, which projected that there would be more than 100 million FWA connections by the end of 2022. Furthermore, this number is expected to triple by 2028, reaching over 300 million.

Of these over 300 million connections, the number of 5G FWA connections is expected to grow to around 235 million by 2028, representing almost 80 per cent of the total FWA connections.