The first phase of the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) Phase 1 (2020-2023) is on the right track as it exceeded network coverage area, mobile network speed and fibre connectivity targets, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Bernama quoted the agency’s Chief Operating Officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus who said that Jendela Phase 1 saw 7.74 million premises installed with fibre internet connections, exceeding its initial target of 7.5 million.
With the implementation of the first phase, it’s reported that 96.92% of populated areas now have 4G network coverage and mobile network speeds of around 116.03 megabits per second (Mbps).
The initial target set for 4G network coverage was 96.9% while the target for mobile network speed was set at 35 Mbps.
The most important step now is to achieve a certain level and maintain it at that level or go even higher.
MCMC Chief Operating Officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus
Phase 2 coming soon
Phase 2 would commence soonest during the third quarter of this year or latest by the fourth quarter, but there are hurdles to be overcome before they can be implemented – such as the transition from a single wholesale network model to a dual wholesale network.
The government has conducted a review where the single wholesale network policy will continue only until we reach 80% (5G coverage) at the end of this year. After that we will migrate to dual network. What the government has done is to set up a taskforce that meets every two weeks. The task force will go through all issues and hurdles.
Part of the changes that might happen with the introduction of the dual wholesale network is updating the existing Reference Access Offer (RAO) which was only meant for a single wholesale network model by design.
“Once it becomes dual entity, it will be different from the RAO that we have today which is based on a single wholesale network model. This is in fact one of the items being discussed by the taskforce at the moment,” he said.
According to the Digital and Communications Ministry, the RAO is the standard commercial and non-commercial terms on which a 5G wholesale service will be made available on a transparent and non-discriminatory basis to any licensed entity requiring access to the 5G service.
In the briefing with the media, it was also announced that 5G network coverage in populated areas now stands at 57.9%.
MCMC is confident that the 80% target by year-end could be achieved, despite the low adoption rate with only 1.2 million users, or around 3.1% as of last March.
