Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said 5G broadcast was unique as it allowed transmission directly to devices without using the internet, WiFi or SIM cards.

The technology involves built-in chipsets in phones capable of pairing automatically with networks, he added.

“This is one of the unique abilities of 5G technology. It can function without internet or WiFi to connect to a device. This could be a mode of broadcasting in the future.

“Perhaps we will be able to enjoy its benefits in the next two or three generations of mobile phones,” he told reporters after opening the 5G Broadcast conference here today.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has been studying the technology to ensure that it does not interfere with existing telecommunication services.

Fahmi said this would be greatly beneficial for live broadcasts of national events, concerts and sports competitions, while government agencies were also looking at its potential for disaster alerts and public safety messaging.

“Currently, early warning systems depend on SMS and apps. But in the future, 5G broadcasts could deliver alerts instantly and more effectively,” he said.

However, Fahmi said most devices in the market were not yet equipped with the necessary chipsets.

“Many of today’s devices are not ready with the chipsets to benefit from this new broadcast function. We expect it will become an industry standard in the future. So, we are preparing for that.”