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KUALA LUMPUR – Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) is pleased to announce its 5G network is ahead of schedule and will exceed 40% coverage of populated areas (Copa) nationwide by December, and is on track to achieve the committed 80% by 2024 or earlier.
The network will reach 14 million people in those areas where it has been established, and in excess of 30 million over the next two years.
The 40% Copa will be achieved with approximately 3,500 sites against an initially planned 4,018 sites. This reduced site count is a result of supply chain issues earlier this year, and delays in securing the necessary local council approvals primarily in Selangor and Sarawak.
These issues have largely been resolved and the network will be deployed progressively in 2023 as planned. In order to overcome the delays experienced and to achieve the 40% Copa, DNB redirected its network deployment efforts to those states initially intended for 2023 and beyond.
The network currently includes almost all of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, and significant parts of Penang, Johor, and Negri Sembilan, as well as some parts of Melaka, Perak, Kelantan, Sabah, and Sarawak.
“The rollout of the 5G network by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) is one of the fastest in the world, having commenced deployment only in October 2021,” said Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh head David Hägerbro.
“On the basis of demand for 5G services, as well as support received for the necessary approvals from the various state and local council authorities to accelerate network deployment, we are confident of achieving 80% Copa within the next 18 months,” said DNB COO Nasution Mohamed.
To date, five of six mobile network operators (MNOs) in Malaysia, who collectively have well over 20 million subscribers – Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YES) – have started offering retail 5G services to their end users, following the signing of their respective access agreements with DNB on October 31.
However, Maxis Bhd customers will not be able to access 5G services just yet, pending its shareholders’ approval to execute the access agreement, which Maxis has indicated it plans to seek in January.
Significant increase in data traffic, uptake of 5G-compatible smartphones
Traffic on Malaysia’s 5G network has been surging, with 56,000 concurrent users utilising 146 terabytes (TB) of capacity on 30 November 2022 – equal to 77,500 hours of high-definition movies.
The network is averaging 394 Mbps download speed against the average 4G download speed of 35 Mbps. Meanwhile, 5G-compatible devices continue to proliferate the market, with some 7 million devices already in the hands of end users to date. It is forecasted that the growth will double in 2023 and exceed 40 million devices by 2030.
End users are spoilt for choice with 12 device brands and more than 100 5G-compatible devices for all budgets available in the Malaysian market. This, coupled with various retail 5G data plan offerings from the five Malaysian MNOs, will see accelerated 5G adoption among end users over the next few years.
iPhone users, however, will have to wait until Apple gives effect to their retail plans with their partner MNOs before 5G services are offered to customers.
5G a gamechanger for enterprises
Enterprises will become significant beneficiaries of 5G. It is a major economic tailwind that will catalyse a host of new consumer, industrial, and enterprise applications – all aligned with the government’s long-term ambitions for the country.
The impact of 5G on productivity, efficiency, and innovation is projected to yield some RM650 billion in cumulative GDP uplift and create 750,000 high-value jobs between now and 2030.
Meanwhile, 5G-enabled digital services will create new opportunities across multiple Malaysian industries, including energy, manufacturing, retail, construction, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and others.
DNB has engaged with the industry, alongside the MNOs, to execute 5G private network solutions as means to deliver these 5G-enabled services and use cases. Examples of engagements include the likes of Intel and Petronas, national and multinational entities.
In fact, according to the National 5G Task Force Report, Malaysia’s economy is expected to undergo exponential growth by 2030 due to the 5G rollout. It is estimated that 5G will contribute RM8.538 billion to Malaysia's GDP in 2025, with an 8% annual growth scenario. – The Vibes, December 12, 2022
