KUALA LUMPUR, 2 December – Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) would like to take this opportunity to correct certain statements made at the recent Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Industry 4.0 Conference 2022. 

Malaysia’s 5G network and infrastructure is being deployed on an accelerated schedule and presently covers approximately 38% of populated areas nationwide, including key industrial areas across the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor. The public may view current 5G coverage areas on DNB’s Interactive Coverage Map here, which already include parts of Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Perak, Kelantan, as well as Sabah and Sarawak. 

The network is on track to cover 80% by 2024, including even more industrial zones throughout the country – as well as nearly 28 million people – within three years of becoming available in December 2021. 

To-date, five major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) – Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM), U Mobile Sdn Bhd, and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YES) – have commenced retail 5G services to end users, following the execution of their respective Access Agreements with DNB on 31 October 2022. 

To clarity further, the approved cost of the 5G network and infrastructure deployment is RM16.5 billion over the next 10 years. 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 RM500 million.