Did you know that Malaysia will achieve 5G coverage in almost 50% of its densely populated areas by the end of 2022? Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya regions also have 5G coverage covering 90% of the population.
Additionally, Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) aims to cover 80% of Malaysia’s population by the end of 2024.
Is 5G Important? What are the benefits of using 5G?
the most important question is What is the difference between 5G and 4G in Malaysia?
Let’s read!
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, mobile gaming, and video calling.
5G is the fifth and latest generation network. This technology is faster and has lower latency than 4G, making it suitable for VR, self-driving cars like Tesla, and the Internet of Things (IoT) like CCTV, smart TVs, internet-connected refrigerators, and cars.
The big difference between 4G and 5G is 5G has much faster download speedsThat’s almost 300Mbps compared to 15Mbps on 4G in Malaysia. In addition, 5G will also significantly reduce latency.
4G vs 5G mobile plans in Malaysia
All telecommunications companies in Malaysia offer 4G and 4G LTE networks regardless of whether users postpaid or prepaid. Telecom companies offering 4G services in Malaysia are:
- Cellcom
- Maxis
- Desi
- yes
- unifi mobile
- Youmobile.
On the other hand, not all carriers offer 5G networks to their users. Telecom companies offering 5G networks are:
- Cellcom
- You mobile
- unifi mobile
- yes
At the moment, Maxis is the only company without 5G serviceHowever, it is expected to reach an access agreement with DNB by January 2023. A Maxis user predicts that in the second quarter of 2023 he will be able to try out 5G internet.
4G and 5G internet speeds in Malaysia
download speed
According to opensignal.com, the average 4G internet speed (download) in Malaysia is only 16.9Mbps. And the average download speed of 5G is 284.9Mbps.
This means that 5G internet speeds are almost 17 times faster than 4G internet speeds.
upload speed
Based on the data released by opensignal.com, we can see that the average 4G upload speed in Malaysia is only 6.3Mbps.
Watch the video below for Digi 5G internet performance in Malaysia.
4G/5G Plan Fees in Malaysia
At the time of writing, most Malaysian telecom companies do not charge extra for 5G service. Let’s take a look at the plans that already offer 5G service.
- 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 (YTL) – 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 still new in Malaysia. As such, it can only be found in densely populated areas, especially in cities such as: Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Malacca, Penang, Perak, 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 not always congested and smooth.
5G networks have higher bandwidth and can accommodate more users at the same time. 5G is still very new in Malaysia, so internet speeds will skyrocket as soon as you switch to 5G.
Except for expensive smartphones such as iPhone and Samsung, most smartphones on the market still support only 4G and not 5G. As a result, the internet will become more mobile with very few 5G users.
Should I buy a 5G smartphone in Malaysia?
There are individual differences, but if you’re thinking of switching to the iPhone 14 or Samsung S22, your smartphone already supports 5G.
In my opinion, even if you are a budget smartphone user, there is no need to upgrade to a 5G smartphone. Because 5G smartphones are usually more expensive and his 4G internet speed of 15Mbps is more than enough for most regular users.
Is 5G good for gaming?
Yes, 5G is known to have lower latency than 4G. It provides the best gaming experience without delays or buffering.
With 5G network, you can smoothly play games on your smartphone or laptop wherever you are. You don’t necessarily have to rely on a Wi-Fi router or use fiber optic broadband.
If you live in an area without Unifi or Maxis fiber broadband, you can consider purchasing a 4G/5G router. This is a great and inexpensive solution for accessing high speed internet.
Will 5G drain smartphone batteries faster?
Yes, 5G uses more battery in Android phones and smartphones because smartphones have to be connected to both 4G and 5G all the time. Therefore, the battery drains faster.
If you don’t use your smartphone, you should turn off the 5G function of your smartphone.
For example, an iPhone that opens 5G capabilities will drain the battery 1-2 hours faster than an iPhone without 5G.
Conclusion
Conclusion5G internet speed is faster than 4G and no congestion problemHowever, there is a drawback that the battery of the smartphone is depleted quickly.
