By Kevin Simon
5G technology will likely become widely adopted in South-East Asia by 2028. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the region (comprising 10 ASEAN countries) has been experiencing a rapid acceleration of the process of digitalization. The most important countries in the region driving digital technology adoption are Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
5G is the next generation of mobile network technology, offering faster speeds and lower latency than previous generations. This makes it ideal for many applications, including high-bandwidth activities such as streaming video and online gaming, and low-latency applications such as remote surgery and self-driving cars. In particular, 5G is expected to enable the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the region, as it can support many connected devices with low latency.
In South-East Asia, 5G is already being rolled out in several countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Moreover, the region is expected to see significant growth in the adoption of 5G technology over the next few years as more and more people and businesses use it to take advantage of its fast speeds and low latency.
Southeast Asia’s Tier II and Tier III cities are progressing slowly. However, there are still a lot of obstacles to overcome before operators can provide network connectivity to everyone. One of the main challenges is the cost of building the infrastructure needed to support 5G networks, as well as the cost of purchasing 5G-enabled devices. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential health effects of 5G technology, although so far, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that 5G poses any risks to human health.
Indonesia
Since 2021, 5G service has been made available in the major cities of Indonesia. The country’s most prominent service providers have begun offering commercial 5G services using the spectrum they already possess, including 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, and 2,300 MHz. However, the rollout of 5G networks could have been more active because there is a shortage of sufficient mid-band spectrum. It is anticipated that beginning in 2023, service providers will have access to new spectrum bands for 5G communications, including 700 MHz, 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz.
Malaysia
Malaysia is deploying 5G via a single wholesale network to expedite 5G deployment and increase the country’s 5G benefits. Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) is tasked with deploying the nationwide 5G network and aims to cover 40 percent of Malaysia’s population by 2022 and 80 percent by 2024. Five service providers in Malaysia have begun offering 5G services.
The Philippines
In 2019, the Philippines were the first nation in the region to launch 5G FWA. Mobile 5G was launched commercially in 2020. Two of the nation’s leading service providers have launched 5G in the 3.5 GHz frequency band. A third provider has introduced a 5G FWA residential broadband service.
Singapore
Singapore has recently extended 5G SA to 95 percent of the country. In Singapore, all three service providers have launched 5G SA networks. With the proactive support of the government and the regulator, service providers in Singapore are focusing on developing innovative services for businesses.
Thailand
Thailand was among the first South East Asian nations to launch 5G. More than 80 per cent of the Thai population is now covered by 5G, thanks to the rapid deployment of 5G by Thai service providers across the country. By the end of Q2 2022, approximately 7.3 million subscribers of the two leading service providers were utilizing 5G. In addition, both service providers attribute recent revenue growth and net acquisitions of subscribers to 5G.
Vietnam
Vietnam has yet to officially launch 5G services, although most providers have conducted commercial trials across multiple bands. Three service providers have tested 5G services in the country’s major provinces and cities. In 2023 and 2024, new 5G spectrum bands are anticipated to become available to service providers.
Overall, 5G will likely become the dominant mobile network technology in South-East Asia as more and more people and businesses adopt it to take advantage of its fast speeds and low latency.
