U Mobile has strategically partnered with Telekom Malaysia to expedite the rollout of its 5G network. The Malaysian carrier signed a 10-year agreement worth RM2.4 billion ($568 million), leveraging Telekom Malaysia’s vast 740,000 km fiber network for efficient nationwide deployment. This aligns with U Mobile’s ambition to ensure 80% coverage within one year.
This collaboration provides U Mobile with essential backhaul infrastructure services. These include fiber leased line access, data center, and facility leasing for points of interconnect, and trunk leased line inter-regional connectivity. Wong Heang Tuck, U Mobile’s CEO, emphasized the goal of achieving broad coverage rapidly with TM’s comprehensive fiber network.
In a significant corporate move, U Mobile announced its exit from Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the government-established entity responsible for 5G infrastructure deployment in Malaysia. Despite divesting its stake, U Mobile will uphold a wholesale access agreement with DNB. This shift coincides with U Mobile’s initiative to emerge as an independent 5G service provider.
To enhance their new 5G network, U Mobile has selected Huawei and ZTE as its primary technology partners. These firms, chosen through a competitive process, will implement advanced features such as network slicing and 5G-A capabilities. Such technological augmentations are essential for customized network needs in sectors like healthcare, transportation, and smart cities.
U Mobile plans to increase indoor 5G site numbers, focusing on areas with high connectivity demand, such as transport hubs, medical centers, and sports venues. By collaborating with Chinese vendors, U Mobile aims to efficiently cater to both the technological and business aspects of its 5G strategy.