As of 30 November, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil reported that the 5G network coverage in populated areas of Malaysia has achieved 76.1%.
He noted that less than 4% is now required to meet the year-end goal of 80% coverage. Fahmi mentioned that upon reaching this milestone, the government would deliberate on the establishment of a second 5G network, according to a news report by Bernama.
On 1 December, Fahmi revealed the signing of the Share Subscription Agreement (SSA), where each of the five telecommunication companies committed RM233 million to Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB). This financial injection is poised to support DNB’s operations and facilitate the implementation of the 5G network.
Simultaneously, the Minister shared that discussions are underway regarding the potential extension of the Rahmah 5G program until March 2024. The decision will be made in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the 5G Task Force.
The extension is being considered due to the fact that, as of 30 October, approximately 50% of the nearly 100,000 devices allocated to the B40 group in the country remain unpurchased.
Fahmi suggested that with the 5G network coverage nearing 80%, an extension might attract more interest in device purchases, warranting a continuation of the Rahmah 5G program.
