Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said telecommunication companies have 20 days to finalise the terms within the Share Subscription Agreement (SSA) with Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) for them to participate in the 5G dual network enrolment.
Speaking at the post-cabinet meeting press conference, he said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will announce a tender process to allow the companies to bid for the dual network system.
“The cabinet was informed that DNB had (its) first meeting (with the telecommunications companies) yesterday, and each representative is given 20 days to make a decision.
“We hope that after the duration, (the companies) will complete and finalise their equity holdings in DNB.
“A precondition to join the dual network is to complete the SSA. Not long from now, the MCMC will announce a tender for the firms interested to make their bids,” he told reporters at the Communications Ministry in Putrajaya today.
In November last year, it was reported that Fahmi said the timeframe for the signing of the much-anticipated SSA had been mutually agreed upon following a meeting with telecommunications companies.
Bernama reported that the only pending matter was for the companies’ respective boards to make final decisions.
Once inked, the SSA will see the mobile network operators acquire equity stakes in DNB as part of the public-private partnership model for deploying 5G infrastructure and services nationwide.
The share subscription details were first announced back in October 2022 after extensive negotiations.
5G adoption rate at 32.9pct
Fahmi’s latest statement indicates the government is finally on the verge of officially cementing its 5G implementation plan with industry players after months of discussions and regulatory preparation.
Asked why the matter took such a long time to be sorted out, Fahmi said the companies had to go through due diligence and hold extraordinary general meetings in order for them to make certain executive decisions.
On the 5G network coverage, he said it has reached 81.5 percent of the populated areas nationwide.
Fahmi also said the increasing 5G adoption rate is a positive sign that the government’s policies and initiatives moved by the MCMC are on the right track.
“The 5G adoption rate has reached 39.2 percent, an increase of 3.8 percent from the end of March. There were 13.2 million 5G accounts by the end of April,” he said.
Fahmi added that the strong adoption numbers show the public has welcomed 5G deployment well.
Breaking down the latest figures, he said there were 12.78 million individual 5G users and 422,609 enterprise accounts as of end-April.
“This is a good situation for individuals. For SMEs, God willing, within the next week or two, MCMC and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) will sign an MOU to help SMEs adopt and implement 5G for their businesses,” the minister said.
‘Bring your proof, Azmin’
In a separate development, Fahmi, who is also Pakatan Harapan information chief has dared Selangor Perikatan Nasional chief Azmin Ali to file an election petition to challenge the government candidate’s win in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“(Please), collect the evidence,” he said briefly.
Yesterday, Azmin was reported as saying that PN is working on filing an election petition over the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election result.
He said all 16 heads of the Kuala Kubu Baharu district voting centres are gathering evidence, to be checked by lawyers, before the petition is filed. - Mkini
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