U Mobile’s enterprise arm, U Business, has completed a Proof of Concept (PoC) with Qualcomm and City-Link Express to test high-value air cargo tracking using a 5G-IoT architecture.
The initiative integrates U Mobile’s ULTRA IoT connectivity solution for enterprises with Qualcomm’s Terrestrial Positioning Service (TPS) technology to enable real-time tracking and monitoring of shipments across complex logistics environments such as airports and airline custody transfers.
Up to 90% faster verification, reducing resolution from days to hours
The 5G IoT PoC was conducted on selected high-value shipments transported from City-Link Express’ main hub in Bandar Saujana Putra, Selangor to cargo terminals in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching over a two-month period.
With this solution, they achieved 90% faster shipment verification, reducing incident resolution time from days to hours. Operational review time was also reduced by up to 70% through automated logging and GPS trails.
The system also enhanced accountability, with digital sensor records increased dispute readiness by up to 50%. In addition, improved data accuracy of up to 30% enables better route optimisation and proactive capacity planning based on actual performance patterns instead of estimates.
Real-time tracking replaces checkpoint-based visibility
The PoC addresses limitations of conventional tracking methods, which rely on checkpoint-based barcode scans and provide limited visibility into handling conditions between scan points due to the lack of real time updates.
For this trial, Qualcomm trackers were attached to high-value shipments to monitor location and conditions such as shock, tilt, temperature and light exposure in real time. Data is transmitted securely via ULTRA IoT connectivity and visualised through Qualcomm TPS, which uses Wi-Fi, cellular signals and optional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons to deliver accurate, precise and power-efficient positioning even in environments where GPS struggles to work.
The solution enables continuous cargo tracking with automated digital timestamping, creating a digital audit trail across airport handling, airline custody transfers and final delivery.
U Mobile Chief Business Officer, How Lih Ren said, “U Business, as the enterprise arm of U Mobile, is always seeking to fully leverage our 5G infrastructure and solutions to support the digital ambitions of Malaysia’s businesses. In this particular instance, we are delighted to partner with Qualcomm and City-Link Express on a PoC that aims to increase productivity and accuracy in the shipment of high-value air cargo through the use of 5G and IoT. The results have been encouraging, with shipment location verification improving by up to 90% and operational review time reduced by up to 70%.”
Qualcomm Technologies Vice President and President of Qualcomm Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, ST Liew said, “Qualcomm supported this Proof of Concept as a technology enablement partner through Qualcomm TPS, a service that delivers precise indoor and outdoor low-power positioning across complex logistics signal environments. Qualcomm TPS is designed to enable partners to develop and deploy solutions that improve device location and observability, enhancing insights throughout supply chains and beyond.”
City-Link Express Business Development Senior Manager, Colin Tan said, “The trackers provided us with unprecedented real-time visibility and objective data that we simply didn’t have with conventional scanning. We have had a very positive response to the trackers’ performance; they allowed us to reduce shipment verification time by up to 90%, transforming how we resolve incidents and ensuring our customers’ high-value assets are handled with the highest level of accountability.”
