Maxis, Telekom Malaysia and U Mobile are aiming to build the country’s second 5G wholesale network after Malaysia’s largest mobile operator Celcom Digi. Bernama Reported.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil told a news agency that the three operators had sent proposals to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
None of the three have issued announcements confirming their bids.
CelcomDigi sent a detailed proposal to MCMC earlier this month to roll out its second 5G network.
The company said it intends to deploy the network either on its own or in partnership with other carriers.
YTL Communications, which has the smallest number of subscribers, did not submit a bid.
In early 2023, the government moved away from a single 5G wholesale network strategy and approved the rollout of a second network nationwide, following pressure from mobile operators and a controversial review of the single infrastructure plan.
Four of the top five mobile operators have backed an equity underwriting agreement with Digital National Berhad, the state-owned company that runs Malaysia’s current wholesale 5G network.
Telekom Malaysia is the only telco yet to decide on a sharing deal, but shareholders are due to vote on the move later this month.
Earlier this week, CelcomDigi and U Mobile, in partnership with ZTE, announced they had set a new world record, recording a data speed of 30.8Gb/s during 5G-Advanced trials.
