5G and the tech economy in Malaysia: tapping the untapped

Telecoms in Malaysia has transitioned to 5G, with network rollout and customer adoption accelerating. This follows a relatively slow start as a result of delays to 5G licensing and the eventual creation of the single wholesale network. The recent announcement that the government in Malaysia has granted a second nationwide 5G licence removes what was in effect an infrastructure monopoly and paves the way for a dual-network model.

This report highlights how the move to a 5G dual-network model is the right one for customer choice, long-term financial sustainability and Malaysia’s competitiveness as a tech and services economy. However, challenges remain, including the need to ensure market stability, regulatory clarity and long-term investment incentives.