Malaysia's 5G network to be launched ahead of schedule, says DNB
Malaysia dan DNB giat untuk percepatkan pelaksanaan 5G, sekali gus dapat merapatkan jurang digital serta mentransformasikan negara.
SHAH ALAM- Malaysia's 5G network to be launched ahead of schedule and expected to exceed 40 per cent coverage of populated areas (Copa) nationwide by end of this year.
In a statement, Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) said the launch was on track to achieving the commitment of 80 per cent Copa by 2024 or earlier.
It added that the network is projectd to reach 14 million people located in areas where the network has alreeady been been established and exceed 30 million people mark in two years.
"The 40 per cent Copa would be achieved with about 3,500 sites as compared to the initial planned 4,018 sites.
"The reduction of sites were due to supply chain issues faced earlier this year and delays in securing the necessary local council approvals namely in Selangor and Sarawak.
"But these issues have been resolved and network will be deployed progressively in 2023 as planned.
"In order to overcome the delays experienced and to achieve the 40 per cent Copa, DNB had redirected its network deployment efforts to those states initially intended for 2023 and beyond," it added.
DNB said the network currently included almost most of all federal territories, Putrajaya, Selangor, and major parts of Penang, Johor and Negri Sembilan as well as some parts of Melaka, Perak, Kelantan, Sabah, and Sarawak.
Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh head David Hagerbro said the rollout by DNB wad one of the fastest in the world, having commenced deployment only in October 2021.
DNB chief operating officer Nasution Mohamed said the company was confident of achieving 80 per cent Copa within the next 18 months.
To date, there are five of six Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Malaysia, which collectively have well over 20 million subscribers – Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YES) – have commenced making retail 5G services available to their end users, following the signing of their respective 5G Access Agreements with DNB on Oct 31, it added.
"However, DNB said Maxis Bhd customers would ot be able to access 5G services just yet, pending its shareholders' approval to execute the 5G Access Agreement, which Maxis had indicated it plans to seek in January 2023.
It added that the impact of 5G on productivity, efficiency and innovation, is projected to result in an increase in the cumulative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately RM650 billion and the creation of 750,000 high-value jobs from now until the year 2030.
