KOTA BARU: The Finance Ministry will begin negotiations with telecommunications companies regarding equity in Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), says Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa (pic).

       He said the negotiation process is expected to be completed by June.

       "The Finance Ministry will issue offers to all companies with experience in spectrum management.

       "There are seven to nine companies that have been given spectrums to manage, so they will be asked to begin negotiations and buy shares at determined prices and we hope they will expedite the negotiations,” he said after presenting donations to Form Six students from the Ketereh parliamentary constituency in conjunction with a Back-To-School programme here Sunday (March 20).

       The government had previously decided to carry on with the implementation of the 5G network through the Single Wholesale Network, and by providing opportunities to telecommunications companies holding equity in DNB.

       Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz said the Cabinet had agreed that the government, which holds 100% equity in DNB, would offer up to 70% equity to mobile network operators. – Bernama