MCMC said the implementation of the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) Phase 1 (2020 – 2023) has surpassed its set network coverage area, mobile network speed and fibre connectivity targets.

Chief Operating Officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus said Jendela Phase One, which concluded today, saw 7.74 million premises installed with fibre internet connections, exceeding its 7.5 million initial targets.

With this, 96.92 percent of populated areas now have 4G network coverage and mobile network speed achieving an average of 116.03 megabits per second (Mbps).

The initial target set for 4G network coverage was 96.9 percent and the target for mobile network speed was set at 35 Mbps.

“The most important step now is to achieve a certain level and maintain it at that level or go even higher,” he said at a virtual media and analyst briefing on Jendela Phase One concluding report, earlier today.

Mohd Ali Hanafiah said the Phase Two implementation will commence at the soonest during the third quarter (Q3) of this year at or latest by the fourth quarter (Q4).

However, there are hurdles to be overcome before Phase Two is implemented, which includes the transition from a single wholesale network model to a dual wholesale network, as announced recently.

“The government has conducted a review where the single wholesale network policy will continue only until we reach 80 percent (5G coverage) at the end of this year.

“After that, we will migrate to dual-network. What the government has done is to set up a task force that meets every two weeks. The task force will go through all issues and hurdles,” he said.

The existing Reference Access Offer (RAO) may also need to be updated or replaced as it was only meant for a single wholesale network model by design.

“Once it becomes a dual entity, it will be different from the RAO that we have today which is based on a single wholesale network model. This is in fact one of the items being discussed by the task force at the moment,” Mohd Ali Hanafiah said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had earlier announced the nation’s 5G rollout will switch to a dual wholesale network model once the network under Digital Nasional Bhd reaches 80 percent coverage of populated areas, so as to ensure quality 5G network.

In today’s briefing, Mohd Ali Hanafiah also announced that 5G network coverage in populated areas now stands at 57.9 percent.

He said MCMC is confident that the 80 percent target by yearend could be achieved, though 5G network adoption was still low with only 1.2 million users or 3.1 percent as of last March.