KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim has asked local telecommunication companies to provide detailed information on 4G technology before the government approves its usage in Malaysia.

He said the people must clearly understand the difference between 3G and 4G technology, particularly in terms of speed, coverage area and data available.

"Some people want 4G technology whilst the 3G technology was actually adequate," he told reporters at the U Mobile Aidilfitri open house today.

Rais said there was not much difference between 3G and 4G technologies unlike the 2G technology with significant difference from the 3G technology.

"What we want to do is that the media alongside the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and telecommunication companies hold community education programmes to explain the 3G and 4G contents that the people should know.

"If this is not done, our people will always be guessing and question the benefits of the 4G technology as to whether do we need 4G technology if we already have 3G technology in certain areas?" Rais said.

The minister said these questions must be addressed first nationwide, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

On the U Mobile open house, Rais said, the company had taken the lead from other telecommunication companies apart from Celcom, for instance, which had hosted a similar open house.

"They (U Mobile) has inculcated good telecommunications' sentiments. I hope our telco community will continue to implement such programmes so that we can live a more harmonious life (in this country) by understanding each other's cultures and traditions," he added.