Malaysia’s 5G agency Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) hit back after new Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim accused the single wholesale 5G strategy process of not being transparent.
In a statement, DNB re-stated that the approved cost of 5G network and infrastructure deployment is MYR16.5 billion (US$3.8bn) over the next decade.
“The network will be funded by revenues generated by the sale of 5G capacity the MNOs. There is no government funding or guarantees anticipated or expected, other than an initial start-up investment of MYR500 million,” read the statement from DNB.
The statement came a day after Reuters reported Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said “it needs to be reviewed because it was not done in a transparent manner," referring to DNB.
DNB also added in its statement, five of Malaysia’s major operators have launched retail 5G services to customers after agreeing on access agreements on October 31. The operators are Celcom Axiata, Digi Telecommunications, Telekom Malaysia (TM), U Mobile, and YTL Communications (YES). Maxis is currently reviewing terms.
The national 5G network currently covers 38% of populated areas nationwide, and is on track to reach 80% by 2024, stated DNB.
Ericsson, which was chosen as DNB’s exclusive supplier of 5G equipment, announced yesterday throughput speeds of 1GB/s on the 5G network using 28GHz (mmWave) frequency at a distance of 11.18km, which the vendor claimed was a record from an antenna.
