PETALING JAYA: CelcomDigi Bhd’s participation in Malaysia’s 5G network development is still pending final discussions with the government, its CEO Idham Nawawi said today.
Idham said while talks are still ongoing regarding the group’s involvement in the national project, it is best to wait for the government to make an announcement on the matter, as reported by The Edge.
He also expressed hope that the negotiations can be finalised within this year.
Idham made these remarks following CelcomDigi’s signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Yinson Holdings Bhd today to expedite the adoption of electronic mobility throughout the nation.
Through the partnership, Yinson will leverage CelcomDigi’s 4G LTE and 5G network to improve connectivity for chargEV and improve the experience of electric vehicle (EV) users.
ChargEV is Malaysia’s largest charging station operator.
Both parties will also work together to enhance consumers’ access to technology-enhanced services, encompassing eBikes, EVs, EV charging stations, and the integration of solar infrastructure.
On Sept 11, the government announced that all telecommunications companies in the country will sign a share subscription agreement (SSA) on their equity stakes in Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) soon.
Their participation will accelerate the implementation of the 5G network in Malaysia, said communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil.
DNB was originally founded to oversee the nationwide deployment of 5G infrastructure through a single-network model, with the aim to potentially lower the telecommunications companies’ capital expenses.
However, the government then decided to allow the establishment of a second network once DNB achieves 80% 5G coverage in densely populated areas.
At 4.44pm, CelcomDigi’s shares were unchanged at RM4.48, giving it a market capitalisation of RM52.5 billion.