A meeting between the Finance Ministry and the Mobile Network Operators (MNO) has set a deadline for MNOs to sign 5G network contracts with Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) or it will be signed alternatively with Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
The government also announced it would maintain the Single Wholesale Network (SWN) model but will dispose of a majority stake of up to 70 percent in DNB to the MNOs comprising Maxis Bhd, Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi.com Bhd and U-Mobile Sdn Bhd.
The Finance Ministry is expected to own a ‘golden share’ in DNB even though it will own a minority interest of 30 percent after the share sale.
Under the SWN model, the MNOs will pay an upfront wholesale fee to DNB to enjoy the 5G access, which would then be transferred to their respective end-users coupled with some value-added services.
DNB is the government-owned entity that was entrusted to roll out 5G connectivity across Malaysia on a cost-recovery approach and it is hoped that the sale of the equity interest of 70 percent to MNOs can be finalised by the end of June 2022.
But the government is frustrated with the slow pace to have the 5G rollout and there is still friction between MNOs and DNB and that the four MNOs have yet to agree on the key terms in the reference access offer (RAO) published by DNB.
-NIAGATIMES
