Did you know that Malaysia has achieved 5G coverage in almost 50% of its densely populated areas by the end of 2022? Also, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya regions have 5G coverage covering 90% of the population.
Additionally, Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) aims to cover 80% of Malaysia’s densely populated areas by the end of 2024.
Are 5G networks important? What are the benefits to be gained from it?
the most important question is Will 5G make a big difference compared to current 4G and 4G LTE networks??
Check it out!
Introduction to 4G and 5G
4G or 4G LTE is the successor to 3G networks. Compared to 3G, 4G networks offer faster download and upload speeds for modern Internet usage such as streaming video content, low-latency mobile gaming, and video calling.
5G is the fifth generation of the latest mobile communication technology. This technology offers faster speeds and lower latency than 4G, making it ideal for virtual reality, self-driving cars, and general Internet of Things applications such as security cameras, smart TVs, internet-connected refrigerators, and automobiles.
The big difference between 4G and 5G is 5G has significantly faster download speeds, speeds close to 300Mbps compared to 15Mbps for 4G. In addition, 5G will also significantly reduce latency.
4G vs 5G mobile plans in Malaysia
All Malaysian telcos offer 4G and 4G LTE networks, postpaid or prepaid. The phone companies that offer 4G service are:
- Cellcom
- Maxis
- Desi
- yes
- unifi mobile
- Youmobile.
On the other hand, not all carriers offer 5G networks to their users. Carriers offering 5G networks are:
- Cellcom
- You mobile
- unifi mobile
- yes
Maxis is currently the only operator not offering 5G service. However, we plan to sign an access agreement with DNB by January 2023. A Maxis user predicts he will be able to experience 5G internet in the second quarter of 2023.
4G and 5G internet speeds in Malaysia
download speed
According to opensignal.com, the average 4G internet speed/download speed in Malaysia is only 16.9Mbps. And the average download speed of 5G is 284.9Mbps.
This represents a 16x increase in download speeds for 5G in Malaysia compared to 4G.
upload speed
Again, data collected by opensignal.com shows that the average 4G upload speed in Malaysia is only 6.3Mbps.
On the other hand, the upload speed of 5G is 39.1 Mbps, which is six times that of 4G.
Watch the video below to see Digi 5G network performance in action.
4G and 5G prices in Malaysia
At the time of writing this article, most Malaysian telcos won’t charge extra for 5G serviceLet’s take a look at the current 5G availability and status.
- Celcom – Free 5G access for all users including Celcom MEGA Lightning, XAX Postpaid and XAX Prepaid Mix & Match plans
- Digi – 5G is only available for postpaid users, specifically Digi Postpaid 90, 120, 150 and Family Unlimited 200 plans.
- Yes – all users have access to 5G
- Unifi Mobile – 5G accessible to all
Now remember that you need a 5G smartphone to access the 5G network.
5G coverage in Malaysia
5G is relatively new in Malaysia.So it is It is mainly deployed in densely populated areas such as big cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Malacca, Penang, Perak and Johor..
You can check the coverage of each 5G network in the list below.
Is 5G worth it in Malaysia?
Yes, especially if you live in an area where 4G networks are always congested.
5G networks will have greater bandwidth and latency. 5G is still very new in Malaysia, so switching to 5G can lead to dramatic speed improvements.
Except for high-end smartphones, most smartphones on the market still only support 4G and not 5G. The result is fewer users competing for bandwidth on 5G networks.
Should I buy a 5G smartphone in Malaysia?
If you’re planning to upgrade to the latest iPhone 14 or Samsung S22, be safe. These high-end smartphones are already 5G ready.
In my opinion, if you are a budget smartphone user, there is no need to upgrade to a 5G smartphone yet. Because 5G smartphones are usually more expensive and his 15Mbps download of 4G is enough for most casual users.
Is 5G good for gaming?
Yes, 5G is known to have lower latency than 4G. It provides the best gaming experience without lags or buffers.
With 5G network, you can smoothly play games on your smartphone or laptop wherever you are. No need to stay connected to a WiFi router or rely solely on fiber optic broadband.
If you live in an area without Unifi or Maxis fiber broadband, consider purchasing a 5G router with a SIM card slot.May be a temporary solution to get fast internet
Does 5G consume a lot of battery?
Yes, 5G consumes more battery on both iPhone and Android smartphones because smartphones have to connect to both 4G and 5G at the same time. Therefore, the battery will drain faster.
If you don’t use 5G, you should turn off 5G on your smartphone.
As an example, an iPhone with 5G turned on will have 1-2 hours less battery life compared to an iPhone that only uses 4G.
Conclusion
in short, 5G networks offer faster download and upload speeds than 4G Also, since it is still in its early stages, it is less crowded. One of the biggest drawbacks is that smartphone batteries drain quickly.
