MALAYSIA Rail Link Sdn Bhd has appointed Maxis Berhad as the 4G and 5G mobile network infrastructure provider for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), in a move aimed at embedding high-speed digital connectivity into one of the country’s largest transport projects.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the appointment reflects a strategic shift towards optimising infrastructure through a shared network model, allowing telecommunications providers to concentrate on improving service quality and user experience rather than duplicating physical assets.
“This collaboration marks another significant step in the government’s efforts to build the nation’s digital future, in tandem with large-scale physical infrastructure development, particularly high-impact projects such as the ECRL,” he said.
He was speaking at the special launch of the ECRL Project’s Golden Train, comprising the Electric Multiple Unit and E-Locomotive, and the presentation of appointment letters to the project’s mobile network infrastructure provider at KotaSAS Station here.
The ceremony was graced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Jana Santhiran Muniayan and Pahang Works, Transport and Health Committee chairman Datuk Razali Kassim.
Fahmi said the Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, would implement a collaborative framework involving the country’s five major mobile network operators, anchored on infrastructure-sharing principles.
“The initiative aligns with the government’s policy of ‘Where There Is a Road, There Is Internet’ aimed at ensuring connectivity along roads, highways and key transport corridors, including the ECRL route,” he said.
Under the plan, a Multi-Operator Core Network will be introduced, enabling other service providers such as CelcomDigi, Telekom Malaysia and YTL to leverage the infrastructure.
Fahmi said the integrated approach is expected to enhance network coverage not only for passengers travelling along the ECRL but also for communities situated within the rail corridor, including urban centres, transit-oriented developments, suburban districts and rural areas.
“Upon completion of the network infrastructure, Maxis, CelcomDigi, U Mobile, YTL, and Telekom Malaysia will be able to provide 4G and 5G services to ECRL passengers in compliance with the Mandatory Standards on Quality of Service (MSQoS),” he added.
The initiative underscores the government’s ambition to synchronise transport modernisation with nationwide digital expansion, positioning the ECRL as both a mobility and connectivity backbone for the east coast and central regions of Peninsular Malaysia. - February 11, 2026
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