Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) aimed at working together and providing Malaysia’s next generation of tech talent with vital knowledge on Fifth Generation (5G) technology. A 5G-inclusive curriculum will be developed to push this forward. In addition, students will be provided with practical and project development experience.
The MoU was signed by APU’s Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Strategy Officer of DNB during the APU-MY5G Week which took place at the Malaysian Premier Digital Tech Institution, APU’s campus in Bukit Jalil. The signing ceremony was witnessed by APU’s Chief Innovation & Enterprise and DNB’s Lead Emerging Technologies.
Through the MoU, the two will work together on key DNB focus areas including sensor technology, edge computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR), as well as the development of relevant ecosystems in Malaysia.
APU will provide state-of-the-art facilities at its Bukit Jalil campus to enable students to conduct proof of concepts, develop cutting-edge 5G-enabled use cases, as well as develop 5G curriculum content based on DNB’s requirements. The University also will host more tertiary-level 5G workshops, industry events and seminars in addition to developing and providing industry-level micro-credentials to the industry.
Meanwhile, DNB’s deployment of the 5G network and infrastructure will work on catalysing interest in next-gen, 5G-powered products and services. Academia is a crucial starting point for this and so DNB looks forward to working with APU to introduce 5G to the country’s latest generation of tech talent.
The MoU comes off the back of the conclusion of the APU-MY5G Week, which saw attendees engage in four-day discussions on key 5G topics. Key topics discussed at the event included 5G drones and robotics, 5G and AI, 5G and XR, 5G and IOT (Edge), Search and Rescue (SAR), including data robot demonstration on machine learning, digital twins, and more.
APU’s Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer stated that this new partnership will help the University strengthen its technical capabilities and provide the students with experiential learning opportunities within the 5G space via enhanced connectivity in its infrastructure and innovation on new applications for Smart University developments.
The move signifies a step forward in APU’s vision of opening up 5G digital technology. It will push the vision of fostering tech talent that is capable of meeting the demand for development in mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low latency and massive machine-type communications towards redefining Society 5.0.
According to a recent report, in 2021, the global 5G services market size was valued at US$48.25 billion. This figure is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 56.7% from 2022 to 2030.
5G wireless mobile services can provide a fully mobile and connected environment via a wide array of cases and business models for consumers. The increasing data speeds alongside extremely low latency offered by the 5G technology also enhance user experiences when deployed for several use cases including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) gaming, seamless video calling, and Ultra-High Definition (UHD) videos.
As the demand for high-speed data connectivity for unified Internet of Things (IoT) applications, such as smart home energy management continues to grow, the adoption and rollout of these services over the forecast period are expected to grow as well.