Axiata’s telecommunications infrastructure company Edotco has celebrated its milestone of enabling 500 of its existing 4G towers with 5G connectivity in 2023. As a major partner of Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), Edotco says it has completed the largest number of 5G sites in the country with a total of 1,695 sites throughout Malaysia.
In an official statement, Edotco says its substantial contribution underscores its commitment to and capability to support Malaysia’s 5G rollout to achieve 80% 5G population coverage by the end of 2023 via DNB. It added that the enablement of these 500 4G towers with 5G signifies Edotco’s focus on future-proofing its infrastructure, ensuring that the networks are ready to meet the evolving demands of the next technology.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Edotco says the upgrade to 5G on existing towers reduces the need to build additional structures specifically for 5G connectivity while employing eco-friendly practices and energy-efficient solutions.
Commenting on the milestone, Edotco Group CEO Adlan Tajudin said, “Enabling 500 of our existing towers with 5G connectivity signifies Edotco’s commitment to connectivity, economic growth, and innovation, as well as our commitment to the nation’s digital transformation journey. This achievement serves as a blueprint towards fulfilling Malaysia’s digital aspirations, showcasing our steadfast dedication to shaping the future of telecommunications through meaningful collaborations and impactful solutions.”
Malaysia’s 5G rollout via DNB currently stands at 73% population coverage as of early November 2023. Under the original plan, DNB had aimed to achieve 80% 5G population coverage with 7,509 sites by the end of 2024 but this was accelerated a year earlier after the change of administration.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has recently mentioned that the telcos will conclude their share subscription agreement (SSA) with the Single Wholesale Network by last week. However, none of the public-listed telcos have announced taking an equity stake in DNB since the government’s announcement to transition to dual 5G networks.
