THE government is expected to unveil the second 5G network next week, which can bring significant improvement in both service coverage and adoption rates, said Fahmi Fadzil.

The communications minister also said that the country’s 5G adoption rate has reached nearly 36% as of mid-April, while the service coverage rate stood at 80.3% in February.

Fahmi said this was a significant achievement considering the low adoption rate of only 12% to 15% in November 2023.

“In just five to six months, we have successfully increased the rate from about 15 percent to almost 36% now. It is clear that many are reaping the benefits, particularly through the 5G packages available.

“I have recently asked the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) to look into this matter so that we can hold discussions with 5G service providers to provide packages for undergraduates,” he was reported as saying by Bernama in Padang Besar today.

Meanwhile, he said the ministry has held discussions with the Education Ministry to facilitate the provision of cheaper and faster internet in schools nationwide.

Malaysia’s 5G network infrastructure is undertaken by the government’s special purpose vehicle Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) which was set up in 2021. 

Last December, five major mobile network operators (MNO) signed a share subscription agreement that would see each hold a 14% stake in DNB after more than a year of tense negotiations.

In May 2023, the government announced it will enable the deployment of a second 5G network in 2024 that will see the transition from a Single Wholesale Network (SWN) to a Dual Network Model. 

The second 5G network is seen as a compromise to allow the MNO to manage the 5G network as a commercial entity without the involvement of the government. – April 26, 2024.