Maxis commits to keeping Malaysians connected via Mobile, Fibre and Satellite, 5G still up in the air

Maxis has launched its new major brand campaign called “Rangkaian Kita, Rangkaian Malaysia” to reinforce its commitment to keep all Malaysians connected. According to the telco, they are the number one not only in 4G but also in fibre, and 5G innovation.

Utilising mobile, fibre and satellite connectivity, Maxis claims to have a better network with RM27 billion invested in the last 26 years. At the moment, they have over 10,000 mobile base stations that provide 93% 4G coverage nationwide and access to more than 21,000km of fibre coverage covering 5.5 mil premises. Last year, they have upgraded more than 30% of their 4G mobile sites which is in line with the ongoing JENDELA initiative. More than 1,100 of their base stations are using satellite-based very small aperture terminal (VSAT) connectivity.

In the past year, Maxis has seen a surge not only for data but also converged connectivity. In 2021, the network saw utilisation of 2.3 billion GB for mobile data traffic which is an increase of 17% year-on-year (YoY) while fibre data usage follows closely at 2.2 billion GB which is a growth of 31% YoY. 4G Wireless broadband utilisation on Maxis stands at 200 million GB in 2021 which is a significant increase of 287% YoY. In total, the overall network delivered 4.7 billion GB which is an increase of 28% YoY.

With wide access to fibre networks in Malaysia, Maxis has been pushing its mobile postpaid and fibre broadband bundle offers in the past few years. At the moment, they have a total of 4.8 million converged subscribers on both mobile and fibre, which is an increase of 30% YoY. Besides offering internet connectivity, Maxis is also offering a host of digital solutions for enterprises. The green telco is also involved in community projects to improve digital adoption and connectivity for entrepreneurs, youths and students.

As part of its brand promise, Maxis wants to provide the most reliable internet experience on the go with the most reliable indoor network that offers zero downtime and zero blindspots. It also promises to offer a world-class enterprise-grade network for businesses.

What about Maxis plans for 5G?

Maxis has been working on getting its network ready for 5G for several years now and they have committed to launch as soon as the spectrum is ready. Besides launching live 5G trials, the telco has also collaborated with other telcos to share infrastructure including fibre to speed up 5G deployment.

At the moment, Malaysia’s 5G rollout appears to have hit a roadblock as the major telcos have yet to sign a wholesale agreement with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the sole 5G network in the country. YTL Communications’ Yes 5G is the only telco offering 5G services while TM, who has agreed to participate in 5G user trials, isn’t ready to offer 5G services at the moment.

During the brand launch event, Maxis CEO Gokhan Ogut told the media that 5G is a new technology and it will be part of their “Rangkaian Menyeluruh”. He said 5G will play a part that complements the network. Ogut didn’t provide any definite timeline to roll out 5G services but said that the telco is working closely with the regulator and the Ministry. He said discussions are still ongoing, and both the regulator and the Ministry will make an announcement at the right time.

At the moment, Maxis and Hotlink customers can enjoy 5G connectivity, when they roam in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. The 5G roaming pass starts from RM29 per day to RM99 for 30 days.

In December, it was reported that the government is reconsidering the current 5G single wholesale network by DNB following criticisms by the industry and lawmakers. Reuters have also reported that the big four which include Celcom, Digi, Maxis and U Mobile have suggested to the government the formation of another 5G network through a consortium that will run in parallel with DNB. Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the government aims to make a decision on the 5G situation by the end of January, but there have been no new updates.