KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 24): The Ministry of Communications and Digital is expected to announce the introduction and implementation of 5G by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) with added features by the end of March.

Minister Fahmi Fadzil said DNB is currently studying and evaluating the available options to ensure the implementation will not just achieve an 80% coverage success, but will be expanded throughout the country.

"We want to make sure there will be no negative effect on the nation’s finances, and we hope by 2025, there will be at least 80% coverage in populated areas," he said when appearing on the Ruang Bicara programme to speak on the title of "Enhancing Digital", which was broadcast by Bernama TV through Channel 502 here on Tuesday night (Jan 24).

Fahmi said the implementation of 5G is to assist companies and factories to gain efficient and fast communications services, because fast and efficient services can help improve productivity as well as offer efficient service to the public.

"I have seen how 5G is being used by local governments to assist in issues of traffic, since data reaches the centre that manages the administration of traffic lights more efficiently, and we can monitor the condition of the entire city in real time.

“The 5G [network] offers added benefits, especially to factories, oil rigs (to communicate faster and more efficiently and to send big volumes of data), machine learning, as well as carry out the Internet of Things, plus the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he said.

Meanwhile, referring to issues of personal security and online scams, Fahmi said his ministry aspires to turn the Personal Data Protection Department into a statutory department to carry out its functions more efficiently.

He said the agency under the ministry will become among important departments that need to be strengthened to serve more effectively in issues of personal data leakage.

“For example, if I issue a cash cheque, the bank will call for confirmation...that is the process. The same process applies to the security of personal data, and the government agency related to personal data must automatically inform the leakage of personal data. This aspect is being studied,” he said.

On issues of security of personal data and the handling of scammers, Fahmi said the current laws need to be enhanced, and the structure or policy reviewed, because currently at least four ministries are responsible for these matters.

Apart from the above issues, his ministry will also look at improving the current laws, and aspire to upgrade the standard of the CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) agency as the Malaysian Cyber Security Commission, because the CSM has the expertise in cybersecurity, and its services have been regarded as the best in the Asia-Pacific region for digital forensic.

"We must work on forming a commission, so that [the CSM] can be given the powers to carry out investigations, and has enough provisions of the law to carry out enforcement procedures," he said.