U Mobile Selects Huawei, ZTE for 5G Rollout

U Mobile has selected Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE as exclusive partners for deploying Malaysia's second 5G network, with Huawei handling Peninsular Malaysia and ZTE overseeing Sabah and Sarawak. The deployment will launch with advanced 5G-Advanced features and enterprise-grade infrastructure, targeting 80% population coverage in the first year and 90% by the second. This decision, finalized after only Chinese firms responded to a rigorous selection process, was announced at a high-profile ceremony attended by Malaysian and Chinese officials. The initiative dismantles the previous monopoly held by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and its partner Ericsson, in line with the government's dual network model to foster competition and innovation. U Mobile aims to prioritize key sectors such as transport, healthcare, smart cities, and data centers, emphasizing improved indoor coverage. While the rollout is expected to boost Malaysia's digital economy and balance Western and Eastern tech influences, it comes amid ongoing security concerns raised by some Western countries.