Vertical: Renewable Energy
Application: Autonomous drone inspections, AI-powered analytics, smart CCTV surveillance, remote monitoring, battery energy storage system optimization
Ecosystem: U Mobile, HLGY Energy
Private Network: 5G
| Malaysia’s renewable energy sector gains a digital backbone as U Mobile and HLGY Energy sign MoU to explore private 5G for smart solar farms. The partnership targets autonomous operations and AI-driven energy storage optimization across utility-scale solar installations under the country’s Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme. |
U Mobile and HLGY Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the deployment of private 5G networks at smart solar farms across Malaysia, marking a significant step toward digitizing renewable energy infrastructure in Southeast Asia. The agreement, signed on October 12, 2026, positions U Mobile’s ULTRA5G network as the digital connectivity foundation for autonomous operations at HLGY Energy’s utility-scale solar installations, with the Kedah Rubber City Solar Power Plant identified as a primary candidate site.
The collaboration arrives as Malaysia accelerates its green energy transition under the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), a government framework that allows private companies to purchase clean power directly from generators. HLGY Energy, which builds and operates utility-scale solar projects under CRESS, seeks to leverage private cellular connectivity to support advanced applications including autonomous drone inspections, AI-powered analytics, and smart CCTV surveillance. The MoU represents an exploratory phase rather than a committed commercial rollout, with both parties investigating technical and operational feasibility before broader deployment.
| Metric | Detail |
| Network type | Private 5G (ULTRA5G) |
| Key vendor(s) | U Mobile, HLGY Energy |
| Timeline | MoU signed October 12, 2026 |
| Named site | Kedah Rubber City Solar Power Plant |
Solar Farm Operator Targets AI and Automation for Next-Generation Energy Management
HLGY Energy operates utility-scale solar installations across Malaysia, with the Kedah Rubber City Solar Power Plant serving as the named reference project under the partnership. The company’s operations fall within the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme framework, which has driven growth in Malaysia’s commercial solar sector by enabling direct power purchase agreements between generators and corporate buyers. As solar capacity expands, the operational challenge of maintaining efficiency across large-scale photovoltaic arrays has intensified. HLGY Energy identified private 5G connectivity as a critical enabler for remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and autonomous operations at sites that can span hundreds of acres.
The renewable energy developer’s longer-term vision extends beyond basic connectivity. HLGY Energy plans to integrate AI with solar generation and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) operations to optimize when energy is stored and supplied to the grid. This approach aims to reduce electricity costs, extend equipment lifespan, and improve grid stability by matching energy dispatch with demand patterns. The initiative reflects broader industry recognition that private cellular networks are becoming foundational infrastructure for renewable energy facilities worldwide, supporting applications from real-time telemetry to automated fault detection.
U Mobile Positions ULTRA5G Network for Industrial Automation Applications
U Mobile brings to the partnership its ULTRA5G network technology and experience in enterprise connectivity. The operator will serve as HLGY Energy’s innovation, automation, and communications infrastructure provider under the MoU. U Mobile’s role encompasses designing a dedicated, secure, and reliable private 5G network architecture tailored to the operational requirements of solar farm environments, where connectivity must support both stationary sensors and mobile devices including autonomous inspection drones. The operator has not disclosed spectrum bands, number of sites, or specific 5G equipment vendors for the HLGY Energy deployment.
U Mobile recently completed a proof of concept for a portable 5G network site powered entirely by solar energy, tested at two rural locations in East Malaysia (SK Mentu primary school in Sebuyau, Sarawak and the Balai Kebudayaan Iburu community hall in Sipitang, Sabah) in partnership with ZTE Corporation. That demonstration, conducted on September 22, 2026, achieved peak download speeds of up to 134 megabits per second, with battery backup systems capable of operating for up to 52 hours without sunlight. The solar-powered 5G site was installed and fully activated within three days, compared with conventional rural tower deployments that can take close to a year. While the solar-powered 5G pilot and the HLGY Energy partnership are separate initiatives, the proof of concept demonstrates U Mobile’s technical capability to deploy off-grid 5G infrastructure, a relevant consideration for renewable energy facilities located in remote areas.
Autonomous Drones and AI Analytics Drive Use Case Portfolio
The proposed private 5G network at HLGY Energy’s solar farms will support a suite of advanced applications designed to transform operational efficiency and safety. Autonomous drone inspections represent a primary use case, enabling remote visual assessment of photovoltaic panel condition, thermal imaging to detect hotspots indicating electrical faults, and vegetation management monitoring. The low-latency, high-bandwidth characteristics of private 5G allow drones to stream high-definition video in real time to control centers, facilitating faster identification of issues that could degrade energy output or pose fire risks.
AI-powered analytics will process data from networked sensors and cameras to detect anomalies, predict equipment failures, and optimize maintenance scheduling. Smart CCTV surveillance systems connected via private 5G will monitor perimeter security and on-site activity, with video feeds analyzed by machine learning algorithms to identify unauthorized access or equipment tampering. The deployment mirrors operational patterns seen in other large-scale outdoor facilities requiring surveillance and asset tracking across extensive areas. U Mobile and HLGY Energy have not specified the sensors or data transmission protocols planned for the deployment, nor have they disclosed performance targets for uptime, latency, or data throughput.
| “By combining private 5G connectivity with AI and industrial automation, we aim to help HLGY Energy develop renewable energy assets that are safer, more efficient and increasingly autonomous. This collaboration will demonstrate how U Mobile’s ULTRA5G network can enable the next generation of smart and sustainable infrastructure.” How Lih Ren, Chief Business Officer, U Mobile |
| “Malaysia’s green energy transition needs renewable energy infrastructure that is reliable, efficient and built for the future. Our collaboration with U Mobile brings together solar energy expertise and private 5G connectivity to explore how AI and automation can improve the way we operate and manage our solar assets.” Kenneth Yap, Chairman and Executive Director, HLGY Energy |
Battery Energy Storage Systems Integration Targets Grid Optimization
Beyond operational monitoring and maintenance, HLGY Energy plans to leverage private 5G connectivity for advanced energy management through Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) integration. BESS technology allows solar farms to store excess energy generated during peak sunlight hours and dispatch it during periods of high demand or low generation, improving grid stability and revenue potential. AI algorithms connected via the private network will analyze real-time generation data, grid demand signals, electricity pricing, and weather forecasts to optimize charge and discharge cycles. This optimization can reduce electricity costs for end users, extend battery lifespan by avoiding unnecessary cycling, and maximize revenue by dispatching stored energy during peak pricing periods.
The approach aligns with global trends in renewable energy digitization. According to industry research, global spending on private 5G and 4G cellular networks in the utilities sector is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15 percent over three years, accounting for nearly two billion dollars in cumulative infrastructure investments between 2023 and 2026. Private cellular networks for utilities range from wide-area networks for smart grid communications to purpose-built 5G and LTE networks for localized wireless connectivity in power plants, substations, and offshore wind farms. HLGY Energy’s planned BESS optimization via private 5G reflects similar efforts in other sectors to use low-latency connectivity for real-time operational decision-making.
Malaysia Renewable Energy Sector Expands Under CRESS Framework
The U Mobile and HLGY Energy partnership arrives as Malaysia accelerates renewable energy deployment under the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme. CRESS enables private enterprises to procure clean power directly from generators, bypassing traditional utility intermediaries and creating a more competitive market for solar and other renewable sources. This regulatory framework has spurred utility-scale solar project development, with HLGY Energy among the companies building multi-megawatt installations to serve corporate buyers seeking to meet sustainability commitments. The digital transformation of these assets through private 5G and AI represents the next evolution in operational efficiency.
Malaysia’s renewable energy landscape includes a mix of large-scale solar farms, hydroelectric facilities, and emerging wind projects. The integration of private cellular networks into this infrastructure reflects global recognition that reliable, low-latency connectivity is essential for modern energy management. International precedents include Kansai Electric Power’s use of local 5G networks and 5G-connected drones at the Eurus Akita Port wind farm in Japan for turbine blade maintenance and inspection, and State Grid Corporation of China’s deployment of a private 5G NR in Unlicensed Spectrum network operating in license-exempt Band n46 (5.8 GHz) spectrum to support video surveillance and mobile inspection robots. These deployments demonstrate the applicability of private 5G across diverse operational environments requiring real-time data transmission.
Technical Deployment Details Remain Unspecified in Exploratory Phase
The Memorandum of Understanding signed by U Mobile and HLGY Energy represents an exploratory agreement rather than a committed commercial deployment. Neither party has disclosed technical specifications including spectrum bands to be utilized, number of base stations or cells, coverage area in square kilometers, quantity and types of connected devices, or estimated investment figures. The exploratory nature of the MoU suggests that both companies will conduct feasibility studies, pilot testing, and performance validation before proceeding to full-scale rollout. The Kedah Rubber City Solar Power Plant serves as the named reference site, but U Mobile and HLGY Energy have not confirmed whether this facility will host the initial deployment or serve only as a reference case for planning purposes.
The absence of detailed technical disclosures is typical of early-stage partnership announcements in the private cellular sector, where network design must account for site-specific factors including terrain, existing infrastructure, interference environment, and operational requirements. Solar farms present unique connectivity challenges due to their large footprints, outdoor exposure to weather, and the need to support both fixed sensors and mobile devices. The private 5G architecture must deliver sufficient capacity for high-definition video streaming from drones and cameras, low latency for real-time analytics and control applications, and reliability under harsh environmental conditions. Similar challenges have been addressed in other industrial deployments requiring connectivity across expansive facilities.
Enterprise Private Networks Gain Traction in Southeast Asia Energy Sector
The U Mobile and HLGY Energy partnership contributes to a growing trend of enterprise private cellular network adoption in Southeast Asia’s energy and utilities sector. Private 5G deployments offer enterprises dedicated spectrum, enhanced security, and customized network performance tailored to operational requirements, advantages that are particularly valuable for critical infrastructure such as power generation facilities. Unlike public mobile networks, which prioritize consumer traffic and may experience congestion, private networks provide guaranteed quality of service for applications where reliability and low latency are essential.
The market dynamics in Malaysia differ from those in countries where enterprises can access dedicated spectrum allocations. Malaysia has not yet established a comprehensive licensing framework for private 5G spectrum, meaning enterprises typically partner with licensed mobile operators such as U Mobile to deploy private networks using spectrum under the operator’s control. This model resembles approaches in other markets where operators provide managed private network services to enterprises. U Mobile’s role as both connectivity provider and digital solutions partner positions the company to capture value from ongoing network management, application integration, and data analytics services beyond initial infrastructure deployment. The HLGY Energy partnership represents U Mobile’s broader ambition to expand its enterprise business beyond traditional connectivity into digital transformation and industrial automation.
| KEY INSIGHT The U Mobile and HLGY Energy MoU signals growing recognition in Southeast Asia that private 5G is foundational infrastructure for next-generation renewable energy operations, enabling AI-driven optimization and autonomous systems that can deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, safety, and grid integration. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the purpose of the U Mobile and HLGY Energy private 5G partnership?
The partnership aims to explore deployment of private 5G networks at HLGY Energy’s solar farms in Malaysia to support autonomous drone inspections, AI-powered analytics, smart surveillance, and battery energy storage system optimization for improved operational efficiency.
Q2: Which solar farm site is associated with the U Mobile private 5G deployment?
The Kedah Rubber City Solar Power Plant has been identified as a named reference site under the Memorandum of Understanding, though the companies have not confirmed whether it will host the initial deployment or serve as a planning reference.
Q3: What applications will the private 5G network support at HLGY Energy’s facilities?
The network will enable autonomous drone inspections, AI-powered analytics for predictive maintenance, smart CCTV surveillance, remote monitoring, and AI integration with battery energy storage systems to optimize energy storage and dispatch based on grid demand and pricing signals.
Q4: Has U Mobile deployed similar solar-powered 5G infrastructure in Malaysia?
U Mobile completed a proof of concept for a portable solar-powered 5G site in September 2026 at two rural East Malaysia locations, achieving 134 megabits per second download speeds with 52-hour battery backup, though this pilot is separate from the HLGY Energy partnership.
Q5: What is Malaysia’s Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme role in this deployment?
CRESS is a government framework allowing private companies to purchase clean power directly from generators. HLGY Energy operates utility-scale solar projects under CRESS, and the private 5G partnership supports operational efficiency at these facilities within that regulatory framework.
Q6: What stage is the U Mobile and HLGY Energy private 5G deployment currently in?
The October 12, 2026 Memorandum of Understanding represents an exploratory phase. The companies have not disclosed technical specifications, investment figures, timelines, or committed to full-scale commercial deployment, indicating feasibility studies and pilot testing are still underway.
