MCMC to spur investments to narrow Malaysia’s digital divide

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will spur investments for innovative and game-changing services for consumers while ensuring the digital divide remains at a minimum level.

MCMC’s corporate communications department, in a statement, said this will be the key focus for the Government of Malaysia Special Purpose Vehicle (GOMSPV) for 5G which the commission will be regulating.

“This is key so existing service providers can continue to roll out fibre as well as improve 4G coverage and quality.

“The burden of 5G will not be on the service providers while still ensuring that the digital divide is kept at a minimum throughout the implementation of the 5G network via the roll out of fibre and 4G networks.

“There will be private sector involvement which will be explained in greater detail by the GOMSPV in due course,” it said.

MCMC also assured that the GOMSPV will offer services via wholesale which are transparent and regulated to ensure service providers offering retail services will have open, fair and equal access to the new network.

“The spectrum is provided to an SPV to build the network and offer capacity via wholesale.

“The non-auction model adopted is part of efforts to not burden cost on a new network, in addition to ensuring that readily available network elements will be used and not laid new.

“This will be a strong indication towards reducing infrastructure-based competition and enhancing a service that will only benefit end users while reducing foreign outflow especially for new equipment if multiple players were to build out a network,” it said.

MCMC said this move would allow retail service providers to invest in more innovative services that will help them generate better income while end users are able to generate more revenue through digital related economy by utilising the new services.

On Monday, MCMC chairman Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek affirmed that a GOMSPV will be utilised to deploy the 5G infrastructure and network, in line with a 10-year plan for the implementation of 5G technology throughout the country which was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin under the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital).

Source: NST