At MWC 2026 in Barcelona, U Mobile has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to collaborate on digital innovation initiatives powered by 5G-Advanced (5G-A), artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies. The partnership aims to accelerate the development of advanced applications aligned with U Mobile’s digital transformation roadmap, while supporting Malaysia’s broader digital economy ambitions.
3.5GHz 5G Trial to Improve Spectrum Efficiency
A key component of the collaboration is a 5G 3.5GHz dual-carrier trial designed to assess more efficient spectrum utilisation. The trial incorporates 5G-A capabilities, including three-component carrier (3CC) aggregation, to demonstrate performance improvements and next-generation service readiness. According to both companies, the findings are expected to support evidence-based spectrum planning, inform policy discussions, and enable future network deployment strategies.
5G-A Gaming and Network Slicing
The MoU also includes joint efforts to design and develop 5G-A-enabled gaming experiences. By leveraging technologies such as 5G network slicing, the companies aim to enhance gaming performance through reduced latency, improved stability, and higher overall service quality.
Advancing Towards Autonomous Networks
Beyond consumer services, the collaboration will explore AI integration within U Mobile’s network operations. The objective is to move towards Autonomous Network Level 4, enabling more intelligent and automated network management. This shift is intended to reduce operational complexity and expenditure while improving reliability, consistency, and overall ULTRA5G user experience. The approach transitions network maintenance from reactive, human-dependent processes to proactive, automated systems.
Previous 5G-A Milestones
U Mobile and Huawei Malaysia previously conducted multiple 5G-A use cases. In December 2025, the companies announced what they described as a global first demonstration of 5G-A capabilities for high-demand home broadband in dense urban environments using Single-User-8-Layer technology.
The trial took place in a high-density residential tower in Kuala Lumpur, where peak download speeds of up to 3.2Gbps were achieved using 100MHz of C-band spectrum. The test utilised Single-User-8-Layer Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), described as the world’s first commercial device supporting the 3GPP New Radio (NR) MIMO standard for 5G.
MoU Signed at MWC Barcelona
The latest agreement was signed by U Mobile’s Chief Technology Officer Woon Ooi Yuen and Huawei Malaysia’s Deputy CEO Zac Chow, witnessed by senior representatives from both organisations. Through this partnership, both companies aim to expand practical deployments of 5G-Advanced and AI-powered network solutions, positioning the collaboration as part of Malaysia’s next phase of digital infrastructure development. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
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