Celcom Axiata, DiGi Telecommunications, YTL Communications, and Telekom Malaysia have signed up to take shares in government 5G wholesale agency Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), and commercial 5G services are to be available from this month.
Reuters reported, the special government vehicle confirmed the four operators agreed to an increase in shares from 65% to 70%, a move to get all operators on board with the plan.
The two remaining operators yet to sign up are Maxis and U Mobile, both reportedly withdrew from negotiations in August, adding to the delay of commercial 5G deployments, Reuters reported. Operators are also still in talks to negotiate pricing and rollout plans with DNB.
The government will hold the rest of the shares in DNB and have control over rights and privileges as well as ownership, sale and transfer of shares, the agency said.
DNB detailed that YTL Communications and Telekom Malaysia would each have 20% shares, while Celcom Axiata and Digi Telecommunications would take 12.5% each, as the two are primed to merge.
Digi planned to increase its stake to 17.5% to be on par with rivals if the merger falls through, it is expected to close in 2023.
