KUALA LUMPUR – The 5G network access agreement between four telcos and the Finance Ministry’s Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) is expected to be signed by month’s end, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
He added that discussions with Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd had gone smoothly and hoped that the access agreement can be finalised and signed by September 30.
In a statement, the minister said the participation in DNB’s equity offer is in the final stages involving the same four telcos.
“In order to facilitate the equity participation, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will update some of the licence conditions for DNB.
“It is especially those related to company holdings since it will no longer be 100% owned by the government as the majority of its shares will be taken up by telecommunication companies, which agreed to the equity offer.”
UMobile on September 2 confirmed that it would not take a stake in DNB but would continue to provide 5G services via its access to the special purpose vehicle’s network infrastructure.
The telco said it was in discussion to finalise the 5G access agreement with DNB.
Last month, Reuters reported that Maxis Bhd rejected the offer to take up a stake in DNB after months of negotiation.
DNB is a Minister of Finance Inc. company, mandated to deploy Malaysia’s 5G network and infrastructure on an accelerated schedule. – The Vibes, September 20, 2022
