KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia ranked second among Asean countries in the GSMA’s Digital Nations Index 2026, behind Singapore, as the regional mobile industry body called for greater integration of national digital strategies to build a more connected digital economy.
The ranking reflects Malaysia’s progress in digital infrastructure, data governance, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) policies, according to the GSMA’s Digital Nations Asean 2026 report released on the closing day of M360 Asean 2026 yesterday.
Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines also recorded significant progress, placing them closely behind Malaysia in the regional rankings.
The report was released as policymakers, regulators and industry leaders gathered in Kuala Lumpur for M360 Asean 2026 to discuss the region’s digital development priorities.
GSMA director-general Vivek Badrinath said Asean had established the foundations for its digital economy, but needed to translate its ambitions into coordinated action.
“The foundations have been built, and Asean has set itself a bold ambition: a $2 trillion digital economy by 2030. What’s clear is that ambition must now translate into action, connecting national strategies into a more integrated, interoperable regional digital economy,” he said.
Badrinath said governments, mobile operators and digital platforms all had a role to play in advancing the region’s digital economy.
“We have the infrastructure, the talent, and the ambition. What comes next depends on how well we work together,” he said.
The final day of M360 Asean focused on efforts to connect national digital strategies and create a more integrated regional market as digital services become increasingly embedded across Asean economies.
Among those participating were Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, chief adviser to the President of Sri Lanka Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, Axiata Group Bhd group CEO Nik Rizal Kamil, Globe Telecom president and CEO Carl Cruz and Vodafone president for Asia Bhupinder Singh.
The GSMA said Malaysia’s progress was underpinned by its AI Nation 2030 strategy, alongside developments in digital infrastructure, data governance and cybersecurity.
Malaysian mobile network operators have also advanced digital trust initiatives.
In September 2025, CelcomDigi Bhd, Maxis Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd jointly launched a federated Number Verification API under the GSMA Open Gateway initiative.
The API enables banks and online retailers to verify customers’ mobile numbers against real-time network data, providing an alternative to SMS-based one-time passwords and helping to address fraud and identity theft.
The GSMA also highlighted digital inclusion initiatives in Malaysia, including Axiata’s Boost ecosystem, which uses e-wallet data to facilitate lending to small and medium enterprises with limited credit histories.
Boost Bank had disbursed nearly RM150 million as of May 2025, it said.
In healthcare, CelcomDigi partnered with Hospital Pengajar Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in November 2025 to launch MediRover and MediDoc, which combine 5G and satellite connectivity with virtual consultations, diagnostic support and remote monitoring.
The initiatives are aimed at improving access to healthcare services in rural areas.
Universiti Malaya Medical Centre also launched a 5G-enabled AI-based “holomedicine” initiative in December 2025.
Meanwhile, M360 Asean 2026 also featured the Digital Nation Awards and Women Digital Leadership Awards, recognising contributions to digital development and women’s leadership in AI and digital technology.
PT Telkomsel won the Best Digital Nation Video Award, while other category winners included Honor, Huawei, Maxis, NTT Docomo, One New Zealand, True Corporation and Singtel.
The GSMA said it would next bring together the global mobile ecosystem at MWC26 Doha from Nov 8 to 10 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
The event will be held alongside the International Telecommunication Union’s Plenipotentiary Conference 2026, which is the ITU’s highest policy-making forum.
