Malaysia’s second 5G network now reaches 90% of the country’s populated areas, more than nine months ahead of its July 2027 commitment. The milestone in Malaysia 5G coverage, announced in October and highlighted by the Communications Ministry in Doha this week, means most Malaysians can now reach 5G on two separate networks. For everyday users, that brings more choice, wider coverage and a clearer picture of what comes next.
A Milestone Shared on the World Stage
The second network, operated by U Mobile after it was appointed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in November 2024, began its nationwide rollout in July 2025. It passed 80% Coverage of Populated Areas (CoPA) in March 2026, more than three months before its first-year deadline, and reached 90% by the end of September.
On 8 November, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil told a ministerial panel at MWC Doha 2026 that the result shows progress in Malaysia’s dual 5G network model, which aims to strengthen competition, encourage investment and improve service quality. Malaysia’s delegation is in Qatar for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), which runs from 6 to 11 November.
5 Things the Milestone Means for Malaysian Users
1. Two 5G Networks, More Choice
Malaysia moved from a single wholesale 5G network to a dual-network model, announced in May 2023. The first network is run by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), which already covered 82.4% of populated areas as of July 2025. With a second network now also at 90%, providers have more than one route to offer 5G. In February 2026, for example, Telekom Malaysia signed a three-year wholesale agreement to offer 5G services over the second network.
2. Coverage Where People Live and Work
CoPA measures coverage in the places where people actually live, rather than across the whole land area, including forests and plantations. Reaching 90% on a second network means that in most towns and residential areas, users are likely to find 5G from more than one source. Competition between two networks in the same areas also gives providers a reason to keep improving speed and reliability.
3. A Push Into Buildings
Good outdoor signal does not always reach inside offices, malls or hospitals. The second network has deployed 5G indoors at more than 250 sites nationwide, including hospitals and industrial locations, meeting its first-year in-building commitment. The company has said the next phase will focus on network quality, reliability and deeper indoor coverage, which is often where users notice the difference most.
4. Fibre at Home Keeps Growing
Mobile 5G is only one part of the picture. Under the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA), which has guided investment in digital infrastructure since 2020, about 10.12 million premises had been passed by fibre as of July 2026, according to the Communications Ministry. MCMC also uses the Universal Service Provision (USP) framework to extend services to places where commercial investment alone may not be viable, helping to narrow gaps for underserved communities.
5. From Coverage to Real-World Use
With broad coverage in place, attention is turning to what Malaysians and businesses do with it. At the October milestone event, the minister said the next challenge is to convince industry to adopt 5G solutions, and he encouraged network operators to work more closely with universities, where students’ data use keeps rising. Under the commitments outlined in November 2025, the second network is expected to reach 95% CoPA by its third year.
What Comes Next for Malaysia 5G Coverage
For users, the coming months are less about new coverage maps and more about steady improvement: stronger indoor signal, more consistent speeds and wider access through different mobile plans. With Malaysia 5G coverage now spanning two networks in most populated areas, and a fibre footprint that passes more than 10 million premises, the country has a solid base for the next stage of its digital economy.
To check Malaysia 5G coverage plans and progress in your area, visit the official JENDELA portal by MCMC.
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