Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has announced the formation of a new Task Force to ensure the current 5G deployment under Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) achieves 80% 5G population coverage by the end of 2023 and a smooth transition towards the dual network model for 5G which is set to begin early next year.
According to Fahmi, the Task Force will be chaired by the Chief Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary-General of the Communications and Digital Ministry, and managed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The Task Force will also include representatives from DNB and other service providers which include CelcomDigi, Maxis, Telekom Malaysia, YTL Communications and U Mobile as well as other parties which will be determined from time to time.
The main objective of the Task Force is to monitor the framework and transition plan towards a dual network model for 5G in Malaysia to ensure regularity and order of the implementation covering legislation, technical and finance.
The Malaysian government has recently announced a policy shift for 5G where the country will transition from a Single Wholesale Network to a Dual Network model. DNB is currently tasked to achieve 80% 5G population coverage by the end of this year, which is one year ahead of its original timeline. The current 5G coverage is at 57.8% of populated areas in Malaysia.
As revealed by MCMC’s COO Dato Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus, state-owned DNB will be privatised after it achieves 80% 5G population coverage at the end of this year. He said there will be two entities under the dual network approach and one of them will take over DNB. He said once the new entity takes over, the government will dispose of its entire stake, making DNB a private entity.
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