Managing Introduction of 5G Network within Airport Boundary for the Case of Malaysia Airports

This paper aims to propose safety recommendations for the introduction of a 5G network to be installed within the airport boundary using the Safety Management System (SMS) tools. SMS serves as a mandatory requirement used to identify and mitigate hazards found in daily airport operations to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. The absent of safety recommendation to manage 5G network within airport boundary has led to this study in-line with the federal government’s agenda to provide internet access across the country, especially the urban areas. This ultimately led to network service providers to approach airport operators to install a 5G network. As one of the airport operators managing multiple airports across Malaysia, an assessment shall be made at a corporate level to justify its managing strategy for 5G network to be made available across all airports. This study will be using the SMS management of change element to identify safety recommendations on 5G network installation within airport boundaries and promulgate the recommendations to the airport regulator. The safety recommendations can hopefully be a future reference by other airport operators in determining safety recommendations to manage the 5G network within airport boundaries.