5G technology expected to create 39,000 jobs in Malaysia

The deployment of fifth generation (5G) technology is set to create 39,000 jobs in Malaysia and shift the workforce towards higher-value skills, said Bursa Malaysia Bhd chairman Abdul Wahid Omar.

Malaysia is poised to roll out the commercialisation of the 5G technology in the third quarter of this year, although the COVID-19 pandemic could delay the implementation.

According to the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research’s findings on the economic impact of 5G implementation in Malaysia, the deployment of 5G would contribute up to RM12.7 billion between 2021 and 2025 to the nation’s economy and potentially create more than 39,000 new jobs.

And Wahid said the deployment of 5G will be a catalyst for the country’s productivity and growth.

“Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0) and 5G implementations are not just on the near horizon. They are here offering opportunities with the promise of speed and responsiveness that will undoubtedly usher in new products, new services and revolutionary ways of doing things,” he said in his welcoming address at the Invest Malaysia 2020 – Virtual Series 3 on September 1.