U Mobile Partners With Huawei To Provide 5G Internet Across Penang Bridge
Users experienced an average speed of 597Mbps.
U Mobile has achieved a major breakthrough in telecommunications by successfully conducting a 5G trial on the Penang Bridge
Using Huawei's state-of-the-art Meta Active Antenna Unit (MetaAAU) technology, U Mobile recorded seamless network coverage across the entire 13.5km span of the bridge, with speeds exceeding 120Mbps.
This milestone highlights U Mobile's commitment to enhancing Malaysia's connectivity infrastructure and overcoming long-standing engineering challenges on one of the world's longest sea-crossing bridges.
Historically, maintaining uninterrupted network coverage on the Penang Bridge has been difficult due to its length and fluctuating traffic patterns
Previous solutions required the installation of a 4G base station at the bridge's midpoint to ensure continuous connectivity. However, U Mobile has now redefined this approach with 5G-Advanced technology and innovative network engineering.
By leveraging Huawei's MetaAAU technology, which incorporates an Extremely Large Antenna Array (ELAA) and beamforming algorithms, U Mobile has doubled antenna elements, extending coverage distance and improving connectivity for edge users by over 30%.
MetaAAU sites were strategically placed at both ends of the bridge, eliminating the need for a base station in the middle while maintaining seamless network performance.
A key feature of the MetaAAU technology is its innovative "0 Bit 0 Watt" mode, which allows network modules to reduce power consumption by up to 99% during low-traffic periods
This energy-saving capability ensures efficient network operation without affecting performance. The system can instantly reactivate within minutes when traffic increases, making it particularly well-suited for infrastructure like the Penang Bridge, where daily usage varies significantly.
During the trial, users experienced a minimum network speed of 120Mbps, with an average speed of 597Mbps
Even at vehicle speeds of 80km/h, the 5G network delivered consistent coverage with zero dropped calls, significantly outperforming legacy 4G solutions.
Once the 5G network is commercially available, commuters on the Penang Bridge will be able to enjoy high-quality digital experiences, including smooth 4K video streaming, seamless short video browsing, immersive gaming, and HD live broadcasts.
"As Malaysia's future second 5G network provider, U Mobile is delighted to have successfully completed this 5G trial with Huawei as it demonstrates our ability to leverage next gen technologies to significantly improve connectivity experiences for Malaysia.
"This trial showcases our commitment to innovation and reflects our capability to roll out the nation's second 5G network efficiently and effectively, ensuring seamless connectivity even in challenging environments.
"With 5G-A, we will be able to provide future enterprise use cases along the bridge, such as road safety services, surveillance with AI capabilities, and drones for emergency situations," said Woon Ooi Yuen, Chief Technology Officer of U Mobile.
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