KUCHING: Sarawak is ready to adopt 5G as it sees the fifth-generation cellular technology has the potential to spearhead its digital economy initiative.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said adopting 5G would not greatly burden the state because it has the necessary infrastructure already in place.
“It’s really a matter of upgrading, or rather leapfrogging from 3G in the rural areas and 4G in the urban areas,” he told pressmen at his Hari Raya Open House at BCCK on Wednesday.
“We will leapfrog to 5G. As we are heading into the digital economy, we need the speed. And while we are upgrading our infrastructure, it is just nice to go straight into 5G,” he added.
The chief minister went on to tell the people not to be unduly worried by the growing number of telecommunication towers and the purported radiation risk these towers pose to humans.
He said telecommunication towers are being built in great numbers all around the world, including in the Western countries not only because they are basic infrastructure to the technology but they have been proven to be of little danger to humans.
“It is just like having a hydrogen car, because of hydrogen you got the fear it is not safe. The thing is we didn’t know how serious, so we are worried. It is just public perception,” the chief minister said.
He said Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) will be tasked to educate the people and give right information on 5G.
“During the 3rd International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2019 to be held on July 8 to 9, there will experts to share the knowledge on 5G, I hope the people will come to listen and ask them whether is it safe or not,” he added.
