The Communication and Digital Ministry said the government is targeting the implementation of the 5G network to reach coverage of up to 80 percent of populated areas nationwide by the end of this year with affordable price offers.
Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the matter had been discussed with Digital Nasional Bhd, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, and all local telecommunications companies through a meeting recently. According to Fahmi, however, his party is still deliberating on whether to remain or change the single wholesale network model for the implementation of 5G services and infrastructure before the end of March.
“Based on the presentation of Budget 2023, the government plans to announce the direction of 5G implementation before the end of March and all telecommunication companies have expressed their readiness to hold further discussions. “I believe in the next few days and weeks, we will be able to reach a final decision on whether to stay with SWN or not and what kind of relationship between DNB and the telecommunications company,” he added.
The contention of SWN, Dual Wholesale Network, or open model has been argued since the previous government decided to go with SWN which didn’t go well with telecommunication network operators. It’s now left to DNB to prove that the model it proposed is the best suited for the country and for Malaysians to look back in 5 years and say this was indeed the best choice.
