U Mobile Selects Huawei, ZTE to Power Next Gen 5G Network
U Mobile has officially appointed Huawei Malaysia and ZTE Malaysia as its strategic technology partners for the deployment of Malaysia’s next-generation 5G network under the country’s dual network model. The partnership was formalised during a signing ceremony held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), witnessed by senior Malaysian and Chinese officials.
As part of its deployment strategy, Huawei will lead infrastructure development across West Malaysia, while ZTE will take responsibility for East Malaysia. The two companies were selected through a comprehensive and competitive tender process, with U Mobile citing their extensive global experience and longstanding relationship with the company as key factors in the decision.
The new network, which U Mobile is branding as its “Next Gen 5G”, is expected to feature cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced capabilities tailored to enterprise needs, including 5G-Advanced features and network slicing from the outset. The company has set ambitious rollout goals: 80% coverage of populated areas within the first 12 months of deployment, increasing to 90% in the following year.
U Mobile’s focus on delivering an enterprise-grade network highlights its aim to support innovation and digitalisation in high-impact sectors such as healthcare, transportation, smart cities, and data centres. Particular attention will be given to improving indoor coverage, especially in commercial and high-density buildings where 5G signal penetration remains a challenge.
Funding for the project will come from a combination of internal resources, bank loans, and vendor financing, with the company also eyeing future proceeds from a planned initial public offering (IPO). While exact investment figures were not disclosed, U Mobile confirmed the deployment would require multi-billion-ringgit commitments.
Over the years, U Mobile has invested more than RM8 billion into its network infrastructure, building over 10,000 sites nationwide. The addition of its own 5G network marks a major milestone as the company transitions from being a wholesale customer of Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to a full-fledged 5G operator in its own right.
In terms of wholesale pricing for its upcoming 5G services, U Mobile indicated that rates would likely align closely with existing benchmarks, such as DNB’s current rate of RM30,000 per Gbps per month. This approach is intended to maintain pricing consistency across the market while ensuring service competitiveness.
U Mobile was appointed in November 2024 to build and operate the country’s second 5G network, a decision aimed at fostering greater industry participation and competition under the dual network framework introduced by the government. The company has pledged to deliver a robust, future-proofed 5G infrastructure capable of advancing Malaysia’s digital economy and meeting the needs of both consumers and enterprises.
Apr 15 2025, 05:45 PM
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