Despite only introducing a 5G network in December 2021, Malaysia has performed admirably in the implementation of the cutting-edge mobile network.
As of December 2023, the 5G network coverage in Malaysia was at 80.2% and by the end of January 2024, users of the network had increased a whopping 2,400% to 10.06 million since December 2022.
The most consistent 5G network in the world!
Now, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has announced that Malaysia’s 5G network has unlocked a new achievement, whereby we have just been ranked as the world’s most consistent 5G network.
During his keynote at the Malaysian Pavilion at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona, Spain yesterday (26 February), Fahmi said that Malaysia’s 5G network scored an impressive 97.27% by Ookla, the global leader in network intelligence and connectivity insights on its “5G Consistency Score”.
Malaysia No. 1 di dunia untuk “5G Consistency Score”.
Ini semestinya bukan kejayaan individu, ini adalah hasil kerjasama semua pihak menjayakan perkara ini 💪 pic.twitter.com/jyjGy51ptJ
— Fahmi Fadzil 🇲🇾 (@fahmi_fadzil) February 26, 2024
Furthermore, the Communications Minister also took the “Best Global 5G Consistency Score” award on behalf of Malaysia at MWC 2024 from the President and CEO of Ookla, Stephen Buy.
Fahmi added that our country’s 5G network ranked first in the rankings, beating Northern Macedonia (94.06%) and the United Arab Emirates (93.88%).
Alhamdulillah, hari ini menerima anugerah “Best Global 5G Consistency Score” daripada Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Ookla, Stephen Buy di Barcelona, Sepanyol.
Malaysia kini berada di 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗮 dalam Skor Ketekalan 5G global pada 97.27% di hadapan… pic.twitter.com/ZpqO8vex10
— Fahmi Fadzil 🇲🇾 (@fahmi_fadzil) February 26, 2024
According to BERNAMA, during his speech at MWC 2024, the Communications Minister lauded the achievement, saying that the triumph reaffirmed Malaysia’s position as a leading layer in the global digital landscape.
Furthermore, he added that this does not only prove our country’s commitment to technological advancements but also a reflection of the concerted efforts made by our telecommunications industry, regulatory bodies and government agencies to build a robust and reliable 5G infrastructure.
How the study was conducted
In a post, Fahmi said that the consistency score is an Ookla-specific methodology of measuring speeds where it has to satisfy both criteria – download and upload – 25Mbps and 3Mbps respectively.
Specifically, the consistency score is based on how consistently a mobile network can achieve a minimum of 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload speed. In other words, the more consistent the network is at achieving these speeds, the higher the score is.
Menurut data Ookla (@speedtest),
𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗱𝗶 𝗸𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗱𝘂𝗸𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗱𝗶 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗿𝘂𝗵 𝗱𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗸 𝗦𝗸𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶 𝟱𝗚 𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗽 𝟵𝟳.𝟮𝟳 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀.
Skor tersebut merupakan metodologi… pic.twitter.com/zMvoSHiseL
— Fahmi Fadzil 🇲🇾 (@fahmi_fadzil) February 26, 2024
However, as of the time of writing, Ookla has yet to publish the consistency ranking study, hence we can’t go into finer details about it.
The elephant in the room
With that in mind, our 5G network topping the ranking for consistency comes as quite a surprise, given that another study, this time by Opensignal, claims that Malaysia has one of the most unreliable mobile networks in the world.
For context, in the Opensignal Global Reliability Experience Report released this month, Malaysia scored 790 points and is ranked the 7th worst in the study.
So, why is this study so contradictory to Ookla’s 5G Consistency Score?
Well, this is because while both aimed to quantify something virtually similar, both use different metrics and methodologies to come up with their respective rankings.
For illustration purposes
The Opensignal Global Reliability Experience Report analysed the reliability of mobile networks as experienced by their mobile users across nearly 40 mobile network markets worldwide.
Moreover, the study measures to what extent users stay consistently connected to their mobile network and whether they can continue to do typical tasks such as email, watching videos and using navigation apps while connected.
Opensignal said that this Reliability Experience study measures every aspect of the user’s experience of their network operator’s mobile data network. These include when it’s working flawlessly, when it’s working erratically and when users can’t connect at all.
For illustration purposes
Meanwhile, Ookla’s 5G Consistency Score is more straightforward, whereby it just repeatedly tests the upload and download speed of a mobile network and sees how consistently it achieves 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload.
It is also worth noting that Opensignal’s study tested Malaysia’s mobile network as a whole, while Ookla’s only tested our country’s 5G network.
For illustration purposes
So, what do you guys think of Malaysia’s 5G network ranking first in the world for consistency? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: Fahmi Fadzil: 5G Network Users in M’sia Increased 2400% to Over 10 Million Since I Became Minister
