Malaysia’s telecommunications industry is gearing up for a competitive 5G landscape as four major mobile operators have officially thrown their hats in the ring for the country’s second 5G network.
According to a report by Bernama, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that CelcomDigi, Maxis, Telekom Malaysia, and U Mobile have submitted their bids to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Notably absent from the list is YTL Communications, which still has a window to submit its bid.
The Malaysian government’s push for a second 5G wholesale network, designed to rival the existing Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), gained momentum in May 2023. To bridge the gap, CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, and YTL acquired stakes in DNB through share subscription agreements (SSAs) in June. Telekom Malaysia is expected to finalize its SSA next week.
These SSAs include a provision allowing telcos to divest their DNB shares in favor of participating in the second 5G network, emphasizing a clear choice between the two options.
CelcomDigi initiated the bidding process earlier this month, while U Mobile has been actively strengthening its position as a potential frontrunner for the second network. The company has inked deals with AmBank Group for financing, Time dotCom for fiber backhaul, EdgePoint Towers and Edotco for tower infrastructure, and the PPIT Consortium for streamlined 5G rollout.
Minister Fahmi emphasized that the MCMC will ultimately decide the winning bid. “We anticipate a decision soon,” he stated, expressing optimism for a final announcement within the year.