PETALING JAYA: Trailing regional rivals in the race to offer 5G mobile services, Malaysia is finally pressing ahead with a plan to roll out the high-speed network across the country even as local carriers wrangle over equity participation in the project.

       State-owned Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), which is building the infrastructure at a cost of RM16bil spread over 10 years, has offered all nine telecommunication companies in the country equal stakes totalling as much as 70% by June 30.

       But the top four carriers have been pushing for a combined 51% majority stake to themselves instead.

       The government intends to deploy the network regardless of the operators’ decision, DNB chief executive officer Ralph Marshall said in an interview.

       If the carriers don’t reach an agreement, the government will look at other options for equity financing, he said.

       “Basically if you don’t come in, we just have to open up the market,” Marshall said last week at his office in Kuala Lumpur. “The principle is accelerating the deployment and adoption of 5G in the national interest.”

       Malaysia has been one of the 5G laggards in South-East Asia. In terms of average mobile download speeds, it trails Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, which have rapidly rolled out the network, according to a report by Opensignal.

       5G coverage in Malaysia is still spotty with limited access in Kuala Lumpur, Cyberjaya and Putrajaya.

       DNB aims to have a 5G network with 40% reach in densely populated areas by the end of this year, compared to about 15% as of March, according to Marshall. It targets to extend it nationwide to 80% in populated areas by 2024, he added.

       At the same time, the infrastructure provider is also seeking to keep tariffs affordable. It is charging carriers less than 20 sen per gigabyte for 5G service, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said in Parliament in November.

       That compares to a rate of between 45 sen and 55 sen per gigabyte for 4G services, he added.

       But the debate on the network has mostly centred around the purchase of equity in DNB by the nation’s carriers.

       Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi.com Bhd, Maxis Bhd and U Mobile Sdn Bhd want a 51% majority stake, Communications Minister Annuar Musa said, according to a Bernama report on May 26. Celcom is trying its best to meet the deadline process, Axiata Group CEO Izzadin Idris said May 26. Izzadin stepped down on May 31.

       “DiGi continues discussions with the government, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and DNB with regards to various aspects of 5G and according to processes in place. We will comment on vital milestones as they occur,” DiGi spokesperson said by email on Tuesday.

       Celcom, Maxis and U Mobile didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. — Bloomberg