Entering the next phase
Technology just gets better with 5G, writes Izwan Ismail
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was among the first of Malaysians to experience the 5G-enabled autonomous car during the Malaysia 5G showcase in Putrajaya last week. The driverless car, which uses a combination of sensors, cameras, radar and artificial intelligence (AI), “drove” him for about 100 metres, from in front of the Palace of Justice to the side of Perbadanan Putrajaya, for the official ceremony of the event. This was part of the showcase to show what is possible when 5G service is finally available in the country.
The whole scene was shot and transmitted live in 5K resolution using a drone to the audience who watched the whole thing on a giant U-shaped screen that took up half of the Seri Siantan Hall in the Perbadanan Putrajaya building. Dr Mahathir entered the exhibition area passing through a security check point that uses a highly secured facial recognition system, and after delivering his keynote address, he was greeted by a hologram of Adik Aishah.
All these are examples of what can be enabled with 5G services, and Malaysia is one of the earliest countries in the region, and also the world, to start 5G service implementation.
hand, offers much more than just speed.
“It promises a world where not only are people connected but all things are connected: From cars on the roads to robotic devices, and doctors able to perform surgeries from the other side of the world, to a fleet of drones that can fly over a field of crops, using sensors on the ground to sort, pick, feed, and water individual plants automatically. These are among the wonders and benefits that 5G connectivity can unlock and it requires massive increase in the level of connectivity,” said Dr Mahathir.
Meanwhile, Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Gobind Singh Deo, said 5G will most certainly amplify the country’s capacity to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0). “It will enable our industries to fully exploit the power of artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, virtual reality, and software engineering,” he said.
“Our daily life in the future will be made more convenient and more efficient — enhanced and enabled by 5G connectivity. We are talking of farmers being able to detect soil moisture and acidity in real time to maximise their yield and efficiency and fishermen being able to maximise their yield by precision techniques. We are looking at the police or firefighters substantially reducing risk to their lives whilst still being able to provide quick and precise responses through robotics empowered by 5G. These are just a few examples of what will be possible in future with 5G.”