U Mobile has successfully conducted a 5G trial on Malaysia’s first Penang Bridge, achieving seamless network coverage with speeds exceeding 120Mbps across its 13.5km span. The effort is part of a collaboration with Huawei, utiling its Meta Active Antenna Unit (MetaAAU) technology, addressing long-standing connectivity challenges on the sea-crossing bridge.
Traditionally, maintaining consistent coverage required a 4G base station in the middle of the bridge. However, U Mobile’s 5G Advanced technology and Huawei’s MetaAAU, which features an Extremely Large Antenna Array (ELAA) and beamforming algorithms, eliminated this need. According to the telco, the strategic placement of the technology at both ends of the bridge enhanced coverage distance and improved edge user experience by over 30%.
A key feature of MetaAAU is its “0 Bit 0 Watt” mode, which allows up to 99% energy savings during low-traffic periods without compromising performance. The system quickly reactivates when demand increases, making it an energy-efficient solution for fluctuating traffic conditions.
During the trial, U Mobile says users experienced a minimum of 120Mbps, with an average speed of 597Mbps and zero dropped calls at 80km/h, outperforming 4G solutions. The telco adds that commuters can expect smooth 4K streaming, immersive gaming, and real-time HD broadcasts once this technology is commercialised. However, U Mobile did not mention whether it plans to implement this permanently in the near future.
(Source: U Mobile press release)
