Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and PROTON Institute have established Malaysia’s first Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)-based private 5G training facility to strengthen digital and telecommunications skills among students.

The facility, located at PROTON Institute in Melaka, enables students to gain hands-on experience using enterprise-grade 5G networks, allowing training to move beyond classroom theory into real-time laboratory environments.

The initiative aims to prepare TVET students for industries that rely on advanced technologies such as automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing.

The two parties also exchanged a letter of intent to jointly develop a 5G-related syllabus, knowledge programmes and industry exposure opportunities for students.

This includes structured short courses covering areas such as 5G network architecture, infrastructure, protocols and standards, as well as deployment models, live network operations, testing and performance optimisation.

PROTON Institute, which operates under the Ministry of Human Resources through the Department of Manpower, is expected to use the facility to position itself as a training centre for industry-ready digital talent.

Chief executive officer of DNB, Azman Ismail, said the collaboration strengthens the talent and infrastructure needed for advanced technologies.

He said, “This collaboration supports Malaysia’s broader nation-building and digital ambitions by strengthening the talent and infrastructure that advanced technologies depend on. By bringing enterprise-grade 5G into a TVET environment, we are giving students hands-on exposure to high-performance networks that enable automation, advanced analytics and edge computing — ensuring Malaysia’s 5G backbone helps develop a future-ready workforce to power sustainable economic growth.”

Director of PROTON Institute Norhuda Salim said the initiative helps align training with industry needs.

“The collaboration with DNB marks an important step in redefining TVET education at PROTON Institute. Through access to live 5G infrastructure, joint syllabus development and industry-based student placements, we are equipping our students with relevant, future-proof skills that meet real industry needs,” Norhuda added.