About DNB (Digital Nasional Berhad)

5G for All: Accelerating a Digital Future for Malaysia

On 19 February 2021, the Government of Malaysia announced the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL). It was conceived to provide a holistic approach to developing Malaysia’s digital economy, with 5G coverage being identified as a critical infrastructure to support the country’s digital economy aspirations.

The Government of Malaysia decided to accelerate the deployment of 5G infrastructure and network in Malaysia to realise the potential of 5G in creating new economic opportunities and innovation for Malaysia.

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) which is wholly owned by the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) was subsequently mandated by the Government of Malaysia to be the single neutral party to undertake the deployment of 5G infrastructure and network nationwide and is licensed under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (the Act) to provide wholesale 5G coverage and capacity to other licensees under the Act.

DNB was established to assist in delivering the following key outcomes in line with the MyDIGITAL aspirations:

• Accelerate deployment of 5G infrastructure and network in Malaysia
• Realise the potential of 5G in Malaysia to spur economic activity
• Narrow the urban-rural digital divide and improve the current state of infrastructure
• Avoid duplication of infrastructure and optimise the use of scarce resources
• Promote service-based competition within the communications industry
• The rollout of the 5G network will be undertaken as a public-private partnership to optimise the use of the country’s spectrum assets for the benefit of the rakyat, enterprise, and government.

Domestic and global businesses with proven expertise and experience in the telecommunications industry will play a significant role in the rollout and development of the national 5G objectives.

DNB will collaborate with relevant stakeholders including government, regulators, state and local authorities, network equipment providers, telecommunications operators, infrastructure owners, as well as various user groups which will benefit from the use of 5G products and services.

DNB will seek to align its business principles with the various aforementioned stakeholders. These principles include:

The adoption of a multi-operator core network (MOCN) model, in addition to leveraging existing sites and fiber networks;

• Ensuring its supply-led rollout strategy of the 5G Single Wholesale Network (SWN) accelerates nationwide coverage and adoption;
• Helping MCMC licensees minimise their costs-to-serve with the SWN model. This is to be done by spectral efficiency, as well as eliminating the need for the duplication of assets;
• Using the 5G SWN as a means to encourage MNOs to shift away from infrastructure-based competition, towards a more service-oriented business model; and
• Catalysing 5G enterprise-grade application adoption and innovation by orchestrating the necessary ecosystem and multi-model support systems.