I think there is no future for DNB tech, DNB is a bailout pending company created by government from Day 1. All YTL, CDB and Maxis will lose their stakes badly on this. TM not buying which is smart, UM “won” their own 5G spectrum. DNB initially said spending 11B then from newer news said 16B if not mistaken, a very big hole to bailout … on average CRB and Maxis only report 1B profit annually … jointly need 8 years to cover DNB hole. Not to mention they need to pay dividends and continue operating their network.

In 5 years time, 6G will come. Maxis and CDB company will be so pressured either there will be merger or some others will buy them over. I think gov deliberately bankrupting Maxis and CDB. From investor perspective, Maxis and CDB are company facing doomsday.

Telco spent 10B including coverage and capacity expansion. DNB spent 16B only on coverage not inclusive indoor. Not even equivalent comparison.

UM has plenty of LTE bands can be used for LTE-CA in NSA, seems more promising in terms of of capacity, also they can refarm to 5G SA easily all under their control. While DNB only has 700mhz and cant CA with existing telco LTE bands which is sad due to different vendor. That is why no telco wants DNB also cause using Ericsson - no future just alone.

Too many telco under DNB making things complicated, cant move, everyone has own agenda. Not really a good thing.

I think China uses all telco brands in China, but largely still provided by Huawei and ZTE. Their market large enough to have a lot of vendors. One reason is to preserve the relationship and trade between countries and job opportunities.

For Huawei 5G back doors, in US the same team that searching for WMD in Iraq still working on it …

I think with DNB having multiple companies of ownership + government, there will be no further technological advancement as too many stakeholders with uncommon agenda.

This not into consideration the amount of debts DNB accumulated from past gov (not sure any songlap), those owning DNB like Maxis, CDB and YTL will have to bailout hurting their financial for future tech progress.

UM with good cabling manage to escape the sinking Titanic.

Tech service providers with no autonomy for tech advancement is a sinking ship.

Telco tech is always designed for one gen evolve to another gen. 4G is most Msia telco final destination as they no longer able to go beyond 5G with DNB stalemate.

Company like Maxis and CDB will go into stagnation next few years, large telco retrenchment, sold off or consolidation within 5 yrs prior to 6G. End of an era for Maxis and CDB are very near …

DNB 5G speed now drops to ~200Mbps from its all time high showcase 1Gbps (Rank 38 - not Top 10 Global now)… DNB 5G will continue to crash as they have no more ways to evolve… In building still nothing … coverage for 5G still poorer than 4G indoor and outdoor … coverage now stagnant … DNB will go down together with Maxis, CDB and YTL (3 suckers forced to pay for DNB debts).

In Korea and Singapore for example, the vendors are chosen by telcos and contract negotiated with telco requirements, DNB’s vendor Ericsson not chosen by telcos … and therefore will come alot of incompatibilities as none telcos in Malaysia using Ericsson.

Whether what i say telco will do a better job shall just see UM 5G. UM is using Huawei/ZTE 4G now award 5G to both .. compatibilities will be great 👍🏼…

[quote=OfficiallyAhmad,May 4 2025, 04:12 PM]

It's interesting that you acknowledge DNB 5G ranking globally yet still doesn't give me Malaysia 4G ranking during its peak. Is there any reason why you don't want to tell me specifically about that?

Your definition of DNB crashing is Malaysia in rank 38 globally but do you know the peak of Malaysia 4G ranking? It must be higher than 38 right if your theory of 4G network competitiveness is true?

Also, isn't it ironic to say that DNB will crash and burns when during 4G era, Digi literally sell their business to Celcom just to survive. With 5G high cost, do you think they will be 5 telco with 5G can survive?

The global news also show how MNO are barely surviving after investing their 5G network. I can link you articles about that below:


https://www.lightreading.com/5g/operators-5...s-of-paying-off


https://www.lightreading.com/5g/south-korea...seeking-profits


https://www.lightreading.com/5g/vodafone-in...ut-three-merger


https://www.lightreading.com/finance/things...twork-operators

For 6G and future rollout, expert and organization have already started discussing about wholesale network. Wholesale is the future, let MNO fight for services and prices instead of fighting for coverage. For example in fibre, every ISP is using TM HSBB, did any of the ISP already crash and burn using TM HSBB?


https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deanbubley_o...7098624000-zdVP


https://chatgpt.com/share/67c17fd1-cb1c-800...4c-8148beba8064


https://mediastorage.o-ran.org/ngrg-rr/nGRG...d_O-RU-v1_0.pdf

https://mediastorage.o-ran.org/ngrg-rr/nGRG...equirements.pdf




https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deanbubley_c...9923060736-aHO4

[/quote]

Two things need to be clear to compare speed with other countries.

1. A brand new network with no customers will tend to achieve higher and theoretical speed.

2. Speed is correlated to the spectrum bandwidth available.

So,

1. Msia 5G is 2 -3 years behind other market. DNB 5G during launch comparing 5G speed with other mature 5G market is clearly not equal comparison, that is why it can claim super high but now back to normal.

2. Uniquely for Msia, during 4G era, each telco was given 10Mhz LTE spectrum to roll out, while a large chunk given to Altel a new company and Redtone. This cronyism situation keeps happening in Malaysia telco market. So to compare a 10Mhz LTE with other countries having 20Mhz as starter speed is not a fair comparison, only until later telco manage to rent to secure to launch LTE 20Mhz. That is why speed comparison for their new network back then don’t make sense. If you want to compare for sake of comparison to justify a case you can but it is just not the right way unless there is ulterior motive. Or maybe just simply x2 the 4G speed to see how the ranking goes …

3. Why Msia 4G coverage is lackluster i have no supporting just my sense as investor perspective: Maxis, UM, Celcom and Digi need to pay Altel and Redtone for their portion of spectrum … or else the money would be used to expand coverage. In a way the cost to roll out LTE in MY compared to other countries are bloated due to the hidden spectrum rental from Altel and Redtone. This is Msia culture unfortunately… Altel and Redtone collect rental without doing anything.

4. In regards to your article that the ROI for 5G is long, that is entirely private companies to manage and think thru, no Msians money shall be spent to worry about it … MCMC just need to allocate spectrum not get into business competitiom with telco. So i still see DNB is bad move by PN gov aka MOF Zafrul minister that disrupt the telco market causing more harm. Is good UM survived the DNB disaster and given mandate to launch a real telco 5G network.

Saw the website states N26 850Mhz, is this Msia 5G band? Didnt recall saw this band been awarded to any telco.

It is MCMC job to regulate and enforce laws to ensure telco provide good coverage. MCMC even got telco to pool money from a percentage of their revenue so MCMC can decide and build towers to serve underserve area, just that the money probably gone with the wind … DNB is basically a project to cover MCMC own failure in doing their job as regulator and enforcement agency … “i sucked at my job so you need to buy me a new Macbook” …

You have a good point that telco holding a minority non-controlling stake in DNB basically is like I bought shares in Maxis and CDB, i cant dictate what Maxis and CDB can or cannot do … DNB is a non-profit org, so Maxis, CDB and YES basically burnt their investment in DNB from Day 1. Ong KM once mentioned about a golden share in DNB, means even if telco own shares, the one holding golden share will dictate, which is MOF. DNB is bad deal for all the suckers that own it (they paid cause is prerequisite for second 5G network contest)… TM is smart cause they know they wont win so save RM200M save time and effort, UM is destined to be the winner even before contest starts…

How many percent is DNB coverage now, inside mall still nothing. Coverage 90% already? Since no comparison, DNB can report anything they want with no consequences, MCMC needs to cover for DNB since they promote and hardsell DNB.

Main problem is DNB was setup without telco in it and made technical decision and procurement to select a vendor that is incompatible with any operators in Malaysia. DNB got in billions ringgit of debt guarantee by MOF.

Unlike other countries where the telcos were the one forming the consortium to decide on the technology behind and also the contract agreement.

The only value with DNB to telco now is the 5G license spectrum, the rest are all bad debts… MOF not wanting to cover the debt now is seeking bailout from the two richer telco, that is why the 2nd license given to UM (one of the reason beside meow)

Therefore, in summary, DNB is a mistake by MOF (Finance minister back then- Z) and now gov wants telco to bail it out …

5G by individual telco > 5G Consortium by telco (like Korea or Singapore) > 5G Consortium by MOF (DNB)

DNB SWN is the only one in the world not setup by telco but by Ministry of Finance that does not know shit about 5G …

UMobile yet to activate theirs so now is really congested … 4G better as there are more spectrum than 5G and telco are prohibited to convert their 4G spectrum for 5G … DNB 5G hits its limit and left dying as SWN… problem when Ministry of Finance the one making decision of technology they have no idea what it is …

The reason probably because Altel was awarded a huge chunk of 4G spectrums while the other 4 were given small amount of spectrums to launch their 4G. Then Telco has to pay rent to Altel and Redtone to rent their spectrum. Altel and Redtone just happily pocket the rental without doing anything … Therefore the explaination on the capacity and price/GB … because telco need to recuperate the investment they paid Altel and Redtone. Malaysia has 6-7 telcos while other countries 2-4 operators, so for same investment on the network, msia telcos unable to recover earning fast enough and not able to bring ARPU lower than other countries …

In summary, gov intereference and cryonism cause Msians the problem back in 4G.

Now in 5G, gov again attempt to interfere with telco businesses, and causing the DNB problem. We are now enroute to see poor 5G quality happening … the early fame for Msia 5G ending … DNB runs out of money and they in huge debt, yea Msians enjoy cheap 5G which they decide to turn off so they can use 4G instead cause quality turns bad, the only thing Msians get is 5G logo not the great service anymore … premature ejaculated on all the paid marketing and news reporting DNB pumping into all the adverising agencies and newsgroup to promote themselves - fastest speed globally, most consistent 5G paid advertisement … now water runs dry, you dont see those fancy ranking talking great Msia 5G anymore … no money no glory …

There is a major difference. All telcos are not prohibited to build their own fibre infrastructure back then, TM building it with gov assistance but other telco can build their own to prevent monopoly if they want to. TIME and MAXIS have their own infrastructure. So is not considered as monopoly. Telcos made a strategic decision to rent from TM instead build their own.

5G is totally different ball game cause without spectrum, telco not allowed to build 5G infrastructure. CDB, UM and Maxis been announcing their infra is 5G ready waiting for spectrum award but MOF (not sure why they made the call) awarded to DNB prematurely without MCMC knowledge only later MCMC forced to accept. And telco not allowed to reuse their tech agnostic spectrum for 5G - forcing monopoly to use DNB only.

The second license was done as “open” tender , telco free to partner to submit but it didnt happen cause every telco wants it for their own in this case … CDB is largest telco, in theory Maxis shall partner with UMobile but since UM probably knows who will win before game begins so no reason to share cake with Maxis. Not to mention MOF the orchestrator of the failed DNB need CDB and Maxis to cover the bad debt and bail out DNB, CDB and Maxis both have stellar financial so best candidate as water fish. MCMC and MOF killed 2 birds with one stone - the pre-decided winner won, DNB found its bail out saviors …

Because none of the telco are submitting proposal as konsortium and partnership, all want to do it alone. In telco world spectrum is like lifeline, without spectrum, the company is towards end of life. All tech innovation, differentiation and optimization based on how well they play the spectrum and make it more efficient. Malaysia 5G has been stagnant for 4 years as compared to other countries due to DNB and situation of telco not having control of the 5G technology … typical people only look at speed and 5G icon on the phone but true potential of 5G is beyond speed but not something achievable by DNB Konsortium.

Umobile 5G with their own infra and spectrum will eventually be the true 5G that put Msia on par with rest of the world …

Maxis and CDB financial will definitely be impacted to cover bailout DNB debt and their spent heavily to refresh the incompatible Ericsson 5G network to suit their own. End of an era for Maxis and CDB, three once most powerful telco in Msia screwed by the gov. Nett nett the winner of the DNB saga is Ericsson, they sold junk to Msia government that eventually too lousy to be used and not future proof with local telco, now gov asking Maxis and CDB to pay the bill …

One may argue telcos not doing good in rural area but MCMC made it mandatory for all telcos contributing USP funds (i think % of their revenue) for MCMC to decide build coverage for underserved/rural … wonder where the fund went to provide rural coverage cause no report how much was spent and where is the coverage is … one may ponder how the fund was spent if rural coverage still poor…

MCMC if back in 2018 award the 200Mhz spectrum to Maxis (50Mhz), CDB (75Mhz), Umobile (50Mhz), Unifi(12.5Mhz) and YES (12.5Mhz) to force them to work together to form konsortium of their choice will be much cleaner … note that none have enough spectrum to realize 5G full potential therefore they will have no choice to work together. And most importantly have the tech knowledge to select the best 5G solution compatible to their network.

Question is, who is gonna pay? Government?

TNB electricity also not fully covered nationwide …

DNB has 4 shareholders: MOF, Maxis, CelcomDigi and YES. If DNB to build more sites more coverage, all 4 of these shareholders need to agree to pump money to build sites. Will they still pump? Unless MOF doubledown with taxpayers money …

HK doesnt have DNB charging them for SA …

Typical gov project, after finish suck dry/ claimed all the glory/ press conference/ sponsored marketing, will find waterfish to bailout their collapsed business .. Maxis, CDB and YES the waterfish. TM smells the scam decide not to participate and UM gets free exit pass … every time gov attempts to involve in business = will end with bailout.

CelcomDigi, Maxis and YTL set to take over MOF’s DNB stake for nearly RM1 billion

Nett loss 1B, nett debt 4B.

Seems like DNB spend money lavishly since no governance not my money anyway attitude … i see it a lot of money spent on advertising, marketing and event, paying here and there to advertise itself as best coverage best 5G but 5G quality still sucks in reality … not to mention high class office at Exchange106 high class location who paying? … now MOF finds Maxis, Celcom and YTL to cover for MOF/Zafrul and MCMC/Fahmi mistakes on DNB. TM and Umobile fortunate escapes from the trap and extortion.

What it translates to the users? If subscription fee doesnt go up means quality will drop further … there is no cheap and good in this world … so expect degradation of service quality from Maxis and CDB in coming years to cover the DNB sinkholes …

That is fact also. The Second 5G bidding is not to find who is more eligible to build 2nd 5G network but actually to find who is more eligible to take over DNB. Maxis and CDB must be showing they very qualify with good finances alot of money and experience… then Mcmc and Mof saw they are so rich then selected them as the suckers … that explains why UM that is smaller and poorer can win …

I think IoT only need 2G, cheap and it works.
I think except China, others not really adopting the so called mmtc and urllc (alot of showcase 5 yrs ago but now AI trend no one cares about 5G) … expensive, hi power consumption, overkill …