TM, YTL first operators to provide 5G access in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) is committed to an accelerated schedule to roll out 5G coverage to 80% of the population in Malaysia by 2024, reported Bernama.

DNB chief executive officer (CEO) Ralph Marshall said Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) on behalf of Unifi Mobile and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd on behalf of Yes, will be the first two operators in the country to provide 5G access to their respective customers within the coverage areas.

“We are pleased to welcome both TM and YTL Communications as our very first customers of the 5G network in Malaysia.

“TM is the country’s oldest telecommunications provider, having introduced telecommunications services nearly 40 years ago in 1984, while YTL Communications is the youngest and only all-4G network provider in Malaysia,” he said in his speech at the announcement of Commercial Availability of 5G Services here, today.

Together he said, both providers have almost 4.5 million subscribers and average monthly data demand of 40-to-50GB per subscriber.

YTL Communications Sdn Bhd CEO Wing K. Lee said the availability of 5G, supported by DNB’s robust ecosystem, will accelerate nationwide coverage and adoption of 5G.

DNB said TM and YTL Communications are the first two companies to take advantage of DNB’s offer of free wholesale 5G services to all mobile network operators (MNOs) that are integrated into the DNB network.

“End users with 5G-compatible devices will be able to enjoy an average speed of 100 Mbps. This means a user at the weakest point of 5G coverage would on average receive 100 Mbps on a 5G-compatible device.

“Crucially, DNB will provide wholesale 5G services to the MNOs at a significantly lower cost than their present cost to produce 4G capacity. MNOs should therefore be able to offer lower prices to their customers for mobile services, which will include 5G services,” it said.

Meanwhile, as a provider of wholesale 5G services, DNB said it will not be competing with the industry in providing 5G retail services to end-users.

“Instead, DNB is complementing efforts by the MNOs with a view to accelerating adoption of 5G in the country. End users are encouraged to contact their respective service providers to enquire about 5G availability,” it said.