Penang Port introduces dedicated-spectrum 5G for port operations
The private network could support autonomous vehicles, remotely controlled equipment and AI-based monitoring in future.
A private 5G system serving Penang Port was officially launched on October 17 by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. The deployment makes Penang Port Sdn Bhd the first Malaysian port to operate such a network using dedicated spectrum.
Altel Communications Sdn Bhd installed the system, which serves North Butterworth Container Terminal and Butterworth Deep Water Wharves over an area of approximately 2.5 square kilometres.
Fakhrul Azhar Tajudin, the port’s acting chief executive officer, said public mobile networks are separate from the new system. The port houses both the 5G core infrastructure and its associated applications on site.
He said this arrangement strengthens the operator’s control of operational data and network performance, while supporting security, data sovereignty and low-latency communications.
The infrastructure is intended to accommodate future use of autonomous prime movers, cranes and gantries operated remotely, AI-based video analysis and intelligent surveillance. It also supports applications that need high availability and latency of less than 15 milliseconds.
