MCMC says Jendela first phase well executed


THE activation of the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) Phase 1 has surpassed its network coverage area, mobile network speed and fibre connectivity targets, said Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chief operating officer Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus.

He said Jendela Phase 1, which concluded today, saw 7.74 million locations installed with fibre internet connection, exceeding its initial 7.5 million target.

He said 96.92% of populated areas now have 4G coverage, with the mobile network speed averaging 116.03 Mbps. 

The initial target for the 4G coverage was 96.9%, while the target for mobile network speed was 35 Mbps.

“The most important step now is to achieve a certain level and maintain it at that level, or go even higher,” he said during a virtual briefing today.

Ali Hanafiah said Phase 2 will commence during the third or fourth quarters. 

But he said there are several hurdles to overcome before Phase 2 is executed, which includes the transition from a single wholesale network model to dual wholesale network.

“The government has conducted a review where the single wholesale network policy will continue only until we reach 80% (5G coverage) at the end of this year.

“After that we will migrate to a dual network. What the government has done is to set up a task force that meets every two weeks. The task force will go through all issues and hurdles,” he said.

The existing Reference Access Offer (RAO) may need to be updated or replaced as it was only meant for a single wholesale network model, he said.

“Once it becomes a dual entity, it will be different from the RAO we have today, which is based on a single wholesale network model. This is one of the items being discussed by the task force at the moment,” he said. 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim earlier announced the nation’s 5G plan will switch to a dual wholesale model once the network under Digital Nasional Bhd reaches 80% coverage of populated areas. 

In today’s briefing, Ali Hanafiah said the 5G network coverage in populated areas is at 57.9%. 

He said MCMC is confident the 80% target by year end can be achieved, though 5G network adoption is still low with only 1.2 million users as of last March. – Bernama, June 1, 2023.


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