General : MWC Doha: Fahmi Shares Malaysia's 5G Success, 90 Pct Coverage Nine Months Early

Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has emphasized Malaysia's remarkable progress in establishing a comprehensive 5G network, as the country's second network achieved an impressive 90% coverage in October, surpassing the initial timeline by nine months. This milestone underscores Malaysia's commitment to transitioning towards a dual 5G network model, which aims to foster healthy competition, stimulate investment, and enhance the quality of telecommunications services.

In line with this vision, Malaysia has been heavily investing in expanding and fortifying its digital infrastructure via the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) since 2020, with approximately 10.12 million homes receiving fiber connections as of July. This significant expansion has played a pivotal role in enhancing access to high-speed broadband services.

Fahmi highlighted Malaysia's substantial advancements in deploying 5G technology, with the second network achieving 90% coverage ahead of schedule. This accomplishment is a testament to the nation's dedication to establishing a robust and sustainable telecommunications ecosystem, ensuring that consumers can enjoy improved service quality.

However, Fahmi stressed that Malaysia's digital infrastructure development is not solely aimed at enhancing network coverage. Instead, equal importance is placed on ensuring service quality, affordability, and resilience, as these factors are crucial for delivering tangible benefits to the people. Through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), efforts are being made to promote infrastructure sharing and optimize network deployment, while simultaneously addressing connectivity gaps in underserved communities.

The Universal Service Provision (USP) framework also plays a crucial role in extending telecommunications services to areas where commercial investment might not be viable on its own. This approach enables Malaysia to strike a balance between infrastructure investment and guaranteeing the accessibility and affordability of telecommunications services for everyone.

Fahmi is currently in Doha to lead the Malaysian delegation at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), which takes place from November 6-11. His visit to Doha also serves the important purpose of securing Malaysia's re-election to the ITU Council for the 2027-2030 term. Accompanying Fahmi are Deputy Secretary-General of the Communications Ministry, Mano Verabathran, along with representatives from the MCMC and local telecommunications industry players, including Telekom Malaysia, CelcomDigi, Maxis, and U Mobile.