KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is currently assessing U Mobile Sdn Bhd’s (U Mobile) detailed business plan for the rollout of the second 5G network, before issuing the company an award notice.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the award notice should be issued to U Mobile this month.
“U Mobile (also) needs to complete several obligations under the shareholder agreement it signed with mobile network provider DNB first, before U Mobile can provide its second 5G network services.
“This process will take at least five months to complete. However, U Mobile can carry out preliminary works on site based on the detailed business plan once approved by MCMC.”
Fahmi (PH-Lembah Pantai) said this in a written parliamentary reply dated Feb 5 in response to Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) who asked how much time U Mobile had to launch the second 5G network.
Last month, U Mobile chairman Tan Sri Vincent Tan said the company aimed to launch the second 5G network by early next year at the latest, if without government funding or local partners.
Tan said he was exploring collaborations with Chinese telecommunications providers Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp.
He also plans to plans to list U Mobile on Bursa Malaysia by the end of this year and is working on an initial public offering (IPO). – February 6, 2025