The Communications and Multimedia Ministry and Finance Ministry will table a Cabinet Ministers’ memorandum next month to resolve the issues relating to Digital Nasional Berhad “once and for all”, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
He said the position of DNB and the Single Wholesale Network or Dual Wholesale Network system which has become a debate and polemic should be resolved soon, following the findings of the National Digital Economy and Fourth Industrial Revolution Council (MED4IRN) meeting yesterday.
“If we allow it to prolong, it will affect the 5G rollout programme which is a key factor to Malaysia’s Digital Economy Framework of Action and implementation of MyDIGITAL,”
This comes from the ongoing debate if the Government should go ahead with the Single Wholesale Network which will allow DBN full autonomy in charting the country’s 5G infrastructure or open up for other players to compete. The issue has been contentious ever since Tan Sri Annuar Musa helmed the Ministry with his Deputy calling for the revocation of the agreement as it was not approved by the Ministry.
Recently opposition MP, Ong Kian Ming also questioned DNB on various issues from being a monopoly and pricing, these were all diligently answered by CEO Ralph Marshall with the MP now asking the telco operators who have been reluctant to sign on the agreements on their opinions.
However, the situation is rather toxic and has hindered Malaysia’s progress in 5G which will need to be resolved immediately if we don’t want to be laggard yet again.
