What U Mobile Building the Second 5G Network Means for Competition

Malaysia is moving away from its initial single-network 5G model toward a dual-network (DN) approach to improve connectivity and market competition .

Why the change?

Malaysia's early 5G rollout relied on a single wholesale network operated by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) . While this helped the country achieve rapid initial coverage, the system faced strain as more users joined and data-heavy services increased . By transitioning to a dual-network model, the government aims to manage traffic more effectively through divided spectrum and independent capacity planning .

The role of DNB and the new network

DNB remains a key player in the country's digital infrastructure. Even as the market evolves, DNB continues to operate its 5G network alongside the new entrant . In November 2024, U Mobile was selected to build and operate the second national 5G network, beginning its rollout of standalone services in March 2025 .

What this means for your connection

As of October 2025, DNB's network still provides the primary 5G coverage layer for most users . While 5G-capable devices are becoming the norm—with nearly 80% of speed tests run on 5G-ready hardware—many users still spend the majority of their time on 4G . This is largely due to indoor coverage challenges and the ongoing expansion of the new standalone network .