The company is the contractor for Malaysia’s rollout of 5G mobile communications by government-owned Digital Nasional Bhd.

Ericsson said the test was conducted over the 28 gigahertz millimetre wave frequency and achieved a peak throughput of one gigabit per second over 11.18km from a radio antenna in Butterworth, Penang, to a point off the island.

Company spokesman David Hagerbro said the transmission used 5G fixed wireless access technology.

“It would allow Ericsson to work with DNB to quickly provide connectivity for schools, hospitals, small and medium businesses, and areas that can benefit from connectivity cost-efficiently, (as well as) to historically underserved locations,” he said.

Mobile network operators would also be able to provide wireless broadband within the existing 5G coverage area and in regions with unserved or underserved broadband markets.

He said the technology had the potential to close the digital divide in rural locations.