KUALA LUMPUR: The expansion of CelcomDigi Bhd's 5G network coverage in Selangor's capital city would boost the popularity of 5G-enabled homes and businesses in i-City and the surrounding areas.
According to Henry Butcher Malaysia chief operating officer Tang Chee Meng, this would eventually lead to higher rental demand and rates, as well as higher capital values.
CelcomDigi recently announced a partnership with I-Berhad to accelerate Shah Alam's digital transformation into an Asean smart city by 2025.
With the deployment of its own-built fibre infrastructure and access to 5G connectivity and technology, the telecommunications company (telco) will provide limitless potential across segments in i-City.
Tang believes that the enhanced performance provided by a 5G network will benefit residents and businesses in i-City and the surrounding areas.
CelcomDigi fibre can deliver speeds of up to one Gbps to any room within i-City homes via its fibre-to-the-room (FTTR) service, providing residents with the best value and fibre experience for their homes.
Tang said that CelcomDigi's expansion of its 5G network to Shah Alam is timely.
Over the last decade, many large, modern, and well-planned township developments have sprouted up in Shah Alam, he said.
"Together with improved infrastructure, they have contributed to the modernisation and upgrading of the image and desirability of Shah Alam as a place to stay and do business.
"i-City, with its modern IT infrastructure and the completion of its modern shopping mall, the entry of brand-name international hotels, and the relocation of a major bank into one of its corporate towers, has improved Shah Alam's image and contributed to its modernisation and upgrading. It will add value with CelcomDigi's 5G network," he said.
Tang said that the telco's 5G network is a vast improvement over 4G.
He said that 5G has lower latency, which means less lag time, allowing devices to be controlled remotely, almost in real time.
Tan also said there are faster speeds, with predicted speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G and increased capacity (based on Intel information, which puts it at 1,000 times faster than 4G).
All of these 5G advantages will provide significant benefits to both residents and businesses in areas served by 5G, he said.
"Video downloads will be almost instantaneous, and gamers will have a seamless experience." Businesses will benefit from increased efficiencies as a result of 5G's faster speeds and increased bandwidth. This in turn would lead to homes and business premises located in an area accessible to 5G becoming more popular," he said.
CelcomDigi chief executive officer Datuk Idham Nawawi said in a statement last week that the company is committed to providing the best solutions, offerings, and experiences to its customers, including i-City residents and businesses, by leveraging affordable fibre, 5G, and 4G technologies.
The company will offer convergence solutions for all residents and businesses' Internet and lifestyle needs, such as home entertainment, gaming, and smart home Internet of Things applications.
I-Berhad chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong said there is more added value for residents with the integration of affordable ultra-fast internet connectivity at home and the convergence of 5G on mobile phones.
Lim said that this paves the way for i-City to open its newest attraction, Immersive Winterland, which is a five-dimensional edutainment facility using cutting-edge immersive technology.
i-City will be launching Immersive Winterland on December 1 this year. Visitors will have the incredible opportunity to interact with and manipulate physical and virtual items and environments using cutting-edge sensing and imaging technologies.