Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz today revealed that foreign telecommunication companies are ‘queuing up’ for access to Malaysia’s 5G single wholesale network under his ministry’s Digital Nasional Berhad . However, he said that local established telcos should be given the first bite.
Nevertheless, the six local telco companies have been given priority to be the main players as the Ministry of Finance believes that they have already invested so much in our country. However, Tengku Zafrul asserted that it is very hard not to allow foreign players a bite at the 5G rollout, especially considering how it could potentially lower consumer prices.
Towards this end, Tengku Zafrul said that the six telco companies have until 31 August 2022 to complete and agree to the terms or risk losing out on access. The full completion of the deal can only happen once they agree to access terms by said dateline, though the Finance Minister does acknowledge that some of the telcos may still try to delay talks.