Setting up a second 5G network in Malaysia is expected to significantly increase capital expenditure due to redundant infrastructure.
Economist Goh Lim Thye from Universiti Malaya estimates that deploying a nationwide 5G network could cost between RM7-10 billion, and duplicating this investment would likely lead to higher costs for companies and consumers, according to FMT.
Mohamed Awang Lah, former CEO and founder of JARING (Malaysia’s first internet service provider), suggests an infrastructure-sharing arrangement to avoid redundancy and increased costs.
He proposes that the second network should cover the remaining 20% not covered by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and share infrastructure with the first operator.
Consumer advocate T Saravanan of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations calls for a strategic pause in the 5G rollout to reassess financial implications and reduce redundancies, ensuring that investments align with national interests and economic stability.
This pause would also facilitate better coordination among stakeholders to meet consumer needs equitably.
5G prices the same under the second 5G network
Though the economist predicts that the 5G expansion will be more expensive, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said otherwise.
Gobind announced that the government, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), will maintain the current 5G pricing for the second network, according to Bernama.
He emphasised that pricing was a key consideration during the evaluation process.
“MCMC is concerned about this issue and has taken steps to ensure that the price remains when the second network is established. The process is still ongoing,” he stated.