U Mobile today rolled out its next-generation 5G network, officially branded as ULTRA5G, at two locations in Peninsular Malaysia. The first is Berjaya Times Square, where the telco’s headquarters are based, and the second covers the entire Penang Bridge 1.
According to U Mobile, the ULTRA5G network utilises 5G Standalone (5G SA) technologies and network slicing. At Berjaya Times Square, the telco claims that coverage spans across all floors, including the basement carpark. This is actually something that all existing U Mobile customers can experience themselves whenever they visit the building, as well as Penang’s first bridge. When connected, the network name will appear as “UM ULTRA5G” instead of “U Mobile”.
Having attended the launch, we tested the telco’s new network using Ookla’s Speedtest app. Download speeds averaged over 630Mbps, uploads peaked at 147Mbps, and ping went as low as 15ms. For comparison, U Mobile’s existing network outside Berjaya Times Square averaged around 150Mbps for downloads, over 30Mbps for uploads, and 24ms ping under ideal conditions.
The event also saw U Mobile demonstrating its ULTRA5G network with a 4K live stream via Berjaya Times Square’s indoor roller coaster, showcasing seamless connectivity regardless of elevation. Also shown were mixed reality experiences powered by the new network’s 5G Wi-Fi connectivity, along with a demonstration of 5G network slicing.
For now, U Mobile’s new network is limited to these two locations, with plans to expand to strategic sites such as hospitals and airports in the coming months. The telco has not provided a timeline for a nationwide rollout, but assures that it is sticking with its goal of achieving 80% Coverage of Populated Areas (CoPA) by the second half of 2026.
