Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo described the ongoing 5G Demonstration Projects (5GDP) in Langkawi as a tremendous success for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as drivers of the fifth generation technology or 5G.

Gobind (above) who accompanied the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the visit to 5GDP-healthcare sector at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital, also congratulated MCMC chairperson Al-Ishsal Ishak.

“To me, it is a huge success and congratulations to MCMC.

“I feel today and tomorrow morning we will see more examples of the technology being used and how it can improve work system or our business,” he told reporters today.

The commercialisation of 5G technology is expected to be launched in the third quarter of this year, thereby putting Malaysia as one of the 5G pioneers in the Asean region.

“I hope in the near future, in the middle of this year, we can see 5G throughout Malaysia specifically in certain areas first, and for its rollout, we will focus on specific industries,” he added.

Gobind said the 5G technology in the healthcare sector would be able to help the hospital provide treatment to patients in a short period.

Telecommunications company, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd with the cooperation of the medical team of the Emergency and Trauma Unit at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital carried out the ambulance project, which enables real-time medical data transfers, subsequently expediting diagnosis using electrocardiogram and ultrasound from inside the ambulance.

Digi also demonstrated a long-distance medical consultation performed by medical practitioners of the hospital with medical officers at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Star, to treat a patient involved in a road accident.

Meanwhile, the 5G technology in telemedicine was undertaken by U-Mobile Sdn Bhd and telemedicine device, MedCom.

- Bernama