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THE government is committed to ensuring that telecommunications companies (telcos) fulfil their pledges to deliver faster, more affordable services to consumers, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of a RM2.4 billion partnership between U Mobile Sdn Bhd and Telekom Malaysia (TM), Fahmi said mechanisms like the Mandatory Standard on Access Pricing (MSAP) empower the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to keep services competitively priced and accessible.
“We have mechanisms such as the MSAP, which we apply to Telekom Malaysia. This helps to ensure that prices remain competitive,” said Fahmi. “We last reviewed the MSAP last year, and it will be something that we review every two or three years.”
Under the 10-year agreement, TM will serve as U Mobile’s principal fibre backhaul partner, enabling broader 5G coverage across the country.
The agreement encompasses leased line fibre access to U Mobile’s 5G Radio Access Network, as well as leasing of TM’s data centres and TM Edge Facilities for Points of Interconnect.
The minister said he had also requested that U Mobile engage with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to consider network-sharing arrangements that could bring further benefits to end-users.
“I believe the collaboration between U Mobile and TM is a step in the right direction and a positive development that should be supported to ensure not only the sustainability of the telecommunications sector but also the industry's readiness to maintain a dynamic ecosystem,” Fahmi said.
The partnership is expected to accelerate 5G infrastructure rollouts and improve nationwide connectivity, with the MSAP continuing to serve as a regulatory tool to safeguard consumer interests. - May 26, 2025