Asean in the digital race: 5G and AI as the key to the future!

Asean in the digital race: 5G and AI as the key to the future!

In today's digitized world, the countries of the ASEAN space face a fundamental challenge: digital transformation. While some countries like Singapore play a pioneering role in the introduction of 5G and AI, others fight with less than 1% 5G cover. A report by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy warns that the digital clings could be deepened and the region's competitiveness could be endangered. To catch up with this deficit, a common effort is urgently needed, and 5G plays a crucial role in this way.

5G technology offers enormous economic potential. According to the forecasts, it will make a contribution of $ 130 billion to the economy of the Asian-Pacific area by 2030. Nevertheless, it shows that the 5G penetration rates in the Asean area vary greatly: While Singapore is around 48.3%, the value in several other member states is less than 1%. This becomes particularly clear when you look at the 9.4% 5G penetration in Southeast Asia and Oceania in 2024, compared to 23.1% in India, Nepal and Bhutan. By 2030, an increase to 51.5% in Southeast Asia will be forecast, while the countries mentioned above should come to 74%. In order to overcome these inequalities, clear national strategies and a coordinated political approach are required.

recommendations and successes in the region

The LKyspp report suggests, among other things, to introduce national 5G AI development strategies with clear timetables and to create coordinating agencies for political and investment supervision. Another goal should be the creation of public-private partnerships to promote AI ecosystems. The introduction of performance indicators could also help to make progress measurable.

The successes in the region are promising. In an exciting step, Singapore has already reached a wide 5G standalone network coverage that enables intelligent applications such as smart ports. Malaysia also makes progress with a population of 82.4% under the cover of the digital nasional Berhad, a model for a uniform wholesale network. Thailand also stands out by introducing AI supported disaster management systems and improving access to fast internet in rural areas. Such initiatives are essential for the implementation of Industry 4.0 and the support of safe applications in industrial environments.

At the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, it became clear that 5G and AI have become indispensable not only for the mobile industry, but also for numerous other sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and energy. The skills of 5G, such as ultra-reliable low-latency Communications (URLLC) and massive IoT (MMTC), revolutionize the business world and drive economic development. At the same time, AI applications such as generative AI and Federated Learning are becoming increasingly important.

The way to the future

Asean has the opportunity to play a leading role in a world shaped by 5G and AI. This requires brave leaders and strategic foresight. Another factor is demographic development with over 680 million people in the region who create a high demand for connectivity and innovation. Malaysia follows a strategy of "active neutrality" to attract global telecommunications operators, AI startups and risk capital providers and strengthen its digital ecosystem.

Computer Weekly reports that asean countries are faced with challenges in digital transformation, while Business Today emphasizes the need for strong political coordination to avoid growing digital inequalities.