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Malaysia wants 80% 5G population penetration by end of 2023

Malaysia wants 80% 5G population penetration by end of 2023
Photo by Jack Sloop on Unsplash

At the presentation of the Budget 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the government will administer the state-owned 5G single wholesale network (SWN), Digital Nasional Berhad, more openly and reach 80 percent 5G population coverage by the end of 2023. Minister of Communications and Multimedia Fahmi Fadzi met with all telecoms today and stated that the government will attempt to reach the accelerated 5G coverage objective one year ahead of DNB's initial goal of achieving 80% 5G population coverage by the end of 2024.

At the Prime Minister's address, it was stated that the 5G deployment will guarantee the involvement of all national telcos. The primary objective, according to him, is to create nationwide 5G coverage that is extensive and affordable for the general public.

The government may be receptive to a dual wholesale network (DWN) or enable carriers to refarm their current spectrum in order to speed the launch of 5G by one year. There is a potential that telecoms might be granted a greater interest in DNB if telcos are participating more. This might end up closely resembling the 2020 proposal of the former Pakatan Harapan administration for a partnership of private carriers to develop 5G technology.

DNB’s deployment achieved close to 50% population coverage as of 31st December 2022
DNB’s deployment achieved close to 50% population coverage as of 31st December 2022

DNB plans to attain 80 percent 5G population coverage by the end of 2024 with a total of 7,509 5G stations, according to its current 5G rollout strategy. DNB said earlier this year that it has surpassed its end-2022 5G population coverage objective of 40% with a stated 47.1% 5G population coverage over 3,900 locations, surpassing the target by a wide margin. After being reprimanded by the Minister, DNB stated that its accessible 5G sites cover just 38% of populous regions in Malaysia, with the other locations still requiring telco onboarding.

To install the 5G infrastructure, Malaysia will require the collaboration of all stakeholders, including DNB and telcos, if it want to speed 5G rollout and achieve 80% population coverage by the end of this year. With DNB's present 5G infrastructure, Malaysia may deploy over 10,000 5G sites by the end of the year if the four largest telecommunications companies add 1,000 5G sites every month. Placing 5G equipment on the telco's existing fiber-optic 4G sites would be faster than acquiring new sites, which will require other obstacles to overcome, including local government permissions.

To minimize duplication of networks and provide equitable access for everyone, 5G sites may be shared by all participants utilizing Multi-Operator Core Networks (MOCN) and non-discriminatory and transparent access conditions. To guarantee that 5G stays inexpensive for everybody, the government must control 5G wholesale pricing via the Mandatory Standard of Access Pricing (MSAP), which will result in reasonable retail prices for consumers.

Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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