Telecommunications in Malaysia

The primary regulator of telecommunications in Malaysia is the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It issues licenses under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Postal Services Act 2012 and the Digital Signature Act 1997.

The telecommunications industry in Malaysia is exhibiting the obvious signs of industry standard change and symptoms of a market in transition.

Bolstered by rapid evolution of telecommunication technologies and increasing demands by the public for more refined telecommunication services, the standard of telecommunication services is now rapidly shifting from voice-centric communication to high-speed data communication.

Telephones system

Number of fixed-telephone (Direct Exchange Line – DEL) subscriptions: 6.415 million as at 2Q 2019

Telephone system: Excellent domestic and international services

Domestic:

• Excellent national communication connectivity in Peninsular Malaysia mainly due to extensive coverage by both fixed and wireless infrastructure such as fibre network, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) network, mobile base stations, earth stations and microwave link stations
• Good connectivity and services in Sabah and Sarawak are mainly provided by adequate coverage of fibre network, ADSL network, earth stations, mobile base station and microwave link stations
• Good intercity communication service (backhaul) provided in Peninsular and East Malaysia are mainly by fibre optic connections and fixed wireless systems (microwave links). In addition, there are also deployment of Very Small Aperture Terminal (“VSAT”) for service provisioning in rural areas
• Major telecommunication operators in Malaysia include Celcom, Digi, Maxis, Telekom Malaysia, Time dotCom and U Mobile

International:

• Wide connectivity via submarine cables to Tier 1 networks* that can reach every other network on the Internet solely via settlement-free interconnection
• Major submarine cable providers in Malaysia are Telekom Malaysia and TIME
• Satellite services coverage to most world continents by Measat, the Malaysian satellite service provider *Tier 1 networks: Network that can reach every other network on the Internet without purchasing IP transit or paying for peering

Overview of Broadband in Malaysia

Since 2011, the broadband market in Malaysia continues to grow steadily. Over the last eight years, broadband subscriptions grew at an average annual growth rate of 27.4% as at 2Q 2019.

As at 2Q 2019, the total broadband subscriptions are at 41.831 million, with broadband penetration rate per 100 inhabitants standing at 127.4%. This growth was mainly driven by mobile broadband segment as a result of an increasing use of smartphones, wider 3G and 4G coverage as well as intense competition. In addition, innovative and competitive new data plans and promotions by service providers managed to boost broadband take-up.

Fixed Broadband Development:

Fixed broadband is being provided via Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL), Very-high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL), Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH), Satellite, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

As at 2019, fixed broadband contributed 6.38% of total broadband market share or 2.669 million subscriptions (2018: 2.655 million).

In 2008, the Government embarked on The High Speed Broadband project known as HSBB to improve the quality of broadband access and enable the users in major cities and high-impact economies areas to enjoy broadband speeds up to 100Mbps. Malaysia has made significant progress in HSBB deployment, as a result of copper-to-fibre migration and consumers’ appetite for rich and premium multimedia services. This has driven demand for higher bandwidth and better quality of services with more capacity.

On the other hand, the Suburban Broadband (SUBB) and Rural Broadband (RBB) provide broadband speeds up to 20Mbps for users in suburban and rural areas.

On 28 August 2019, the Government approved the implementation of the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) over a five-year period from 2019 to 2023.

NFCP is a plan that aims to put in place a robust, pervasive, high quality and affordable digital connectivity for the well-being of the people and progress of the country with the following targets:

i. Entry-level fixed broadband package at 1% of GNI by 2020

ii. Gigabits availability in selected industrial areas by 2020 and to all State Capitals by 2023

iii. 100% availability for premises in State Capitals and selected high impact areas with a minimum speed of 500Mbps by 2021

iv. 20% availability for premises in sub-urban and rural areas with up to 500Mbps by 2022

v. Fibre network passes 70% of schools, hospitals, libraries, police stations and post offices by 2022

vi. Average speed of 30Mbps in 98% of populated areas by 2023

vii. Improve mobile coverage along Pan Borneo highway upon completion

Further information on NFCP can be obtained from http://www.nfcp.my/ .

Mobile Broadband Development:

Mobile broadband contributed 93.62% of total broadband market share or 39.162 million of subscriptions as at 2Q 2019. This was mainly attributed by the following factors:

i. Upgrading and expansion of network coverage.

For instance, the Time 3 and Time 3 Extension initiatives by the Government involved construction of 2,000 new communications towers in rural areas nationwide. Apart from that, more than 5,000 existing communications towers were upgraded from 2G to 3G/4G to cater higher broadband speed in rural areas. In addition, service providers also continued to invest in mobile network upgrade and expansion. As at 2Q 2019, 3G population coverage has reached 94.9%, whilst 4G LTE population coverage rose to 80.1%.

Submarine Cable System to Sabah & Sarawak:

Introduced in 2014 through a public-private partnership between MCMC and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM). The project was completed in 2017 and this will be a redundancy to the existing domestic submarine cable services that have been operating since 1995. It was aimed to meet the growing demands for bandwidth between Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. 

Submarine Cable System to Islands:

The project started in 2017 and was completed in 2018, which involved in upgrading of existing communications infrastructure network, together with the fibre optic cables connecting between the mainland with three islands - Perhentian, Tioman and Pangkor islands.

Broadband Service Providers:

Service Providers	Service
	Fixed Broadband	Mobile Broadband
Telekom Malaysia (TM)	√	√
Maxis Berhad (Maxis)	√	√
Celcom Axiata Berhad (Celcom)	√	√
Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (Digi)		√
U-Mobile Sdn Bhd (U Mobile)		√
Macro Lynx Sdn Bhd	√
MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd	√
MyISP Dot Com Sdn Bhd	√
PR1MA Communications Sdn Bhd	√
Reach Ten Communications Sdn Bhd	√
REDtone International Berhad	√
Sacofa Sdn Bhd	√
Allo Technology Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Setia Haruman Technology Sdn Bhd)	√
Sunway Digital Wave Sdn Bhd	√
TT Dotcom Sdn Bhd	√
ViewQwest Sdn Bhd	√
XMT Technologies Sdn Bhd	√
Altel Communications Sdn Bhd		√
Ceres Telecom Sdn Bhd		√
Merchantrade Asia Sdn Bhd		√
Pavo Communications Sdn Bhd		√
RedONE Network Sdn Bhd		√
Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Telin)		√
Tune Talk Sdn Bhd		√
XOX Berhad		√
YTL Broadband Sdn Bhd		√

Mobile Cellular

The major service providers for mobile cellular services in Malaysia are Celcom Axiata Berhad, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Maxis Berhad and U Mobile Sdn Bhd. The number of mobile cellular subscriptions stood at 43.37 million as at 2Q 2019 with penetration rate per 100 inhabitants is 132.4%.

Mobile cellular service is also provided by Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). As at 2Q 2019, there are 11 MVNOs operating in Malaysia which include Merchantrade Asia Sdn Bhd, redONE Network Sdn Bhd, Tune Talk Sdn Bhd, XOX Com Berhad, Altel Communication Sdn Bhd, PLDT Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Ceres Telecom Sdn Bhd, Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (M) Sdn Bhd (Telin), Pavo Communications Sdn Bhd, MY Evolution Sdn Bhd and Redtone Engineering & Network Services Sdn Bhd.

Radio Usage Statistics

Radio broadcast assignment:

• Shortwave (HF): 14 assignments
• FM: 707 assignments

Radio broadcast stations FM

• Public Radio Stations: 33
• Private Radio Stations: 27

List of Terrestrial Radio Channels:

A. Radio Televisyen Malaysia (Federal Government-operated channels):

1. Nasional FM

2. Traxx FM

3. Minnal FM

4. Ai FM

5. Radio Klasik

6. Asyik FM

7. Local/State Radio Stations: 27

7.1        Perlis FM

7.2        Kedah FM

7.3        Mutiara FM

7.4        Perak FM

7.5        Selangor FM

7.6        Negeri FM

7.7        Melaka FM

7.8        Johor FM

7.9        Pahang FM

7.10     Terengganu FM

7.11     Kelantan FM

7.12     Sarawak FM

7.13     Sabah FM

7.14     KL FM

7.15     Limbang FM

7.16     Miri FM

7.17     Sri Aman FM

7.18     Bintulu FM

7.19     Sibu FM

7.20     Red FM- Sarawak Rangkaian Merah

7.21     WAI FM- Sarawak Saluran Etnik

7.22     Sabah FM

7.23     Sandakan FM

7.24     Tawau FM

7.25     Keningau FM

7.26     Labuan FM

7.27     Langkawi FM

B. Media Prima Berhad (Private):

1. Synchrosound Studio Sdn Bhd (Hot FM)

2. One FM Radio Sdn Bhd (One FM)

3. Kool FM Radio Sdn Bhd (Kool FM)

C. Measat Broadcast Network Services Sdn Bhd (ASTRO) (Private):

1. Capital FM Sdn Bhd (Go Xuan & Zayan)

2. Measat Radio Communications Sdn Bhd (Hitz, Lite & MY)

3. Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd (ERA, Mix & Melody)

4. Perfect Excellence Waves Sdn Bhd (Sinar)

5. Radio Lebuhraya Sdn Bhd (Raaga & Gegar)

D. Star Media Group Berhad (The Star) (Private)

1. Rimakmur Sdn Bhd (Suria FM)

2. Star Rfm Sdn Bhd (988 FM)

E. Others

1. BFM Media Sdn Bhd (BFM 89.9)

2. Husa Network Sdn Bhd (Manis FM)

3. Senandung Sonik Sdn Bhd (Tea FM)

4. Radio Kita Sdn Bhd (RAKITA)

5. Cense Media Sdn Bhd (Kupikupi FM & City Plus FM)

6. Suara Johor Sdn Bhd (Best FM)

7. Kristal Harta Sdn Bhd (Cats FM)

8. Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM FM)

9. Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd (Fly FM)

10. Arus Rentas Sdn Bhd (KK12FM)

11.   Ephrata Services Sdn Bhd (VOKfm)

Amateur Radio Stations: 13,682 assignments

Radio listenership: 19.8 million (2018)

Television

Analogue Terrestrial Television (ATV) broadcast assignment:

•      252 assignments (until 31 Dec 2019)

Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast assignment:

•      88 assignments

Digital Terrestrial television stations

The following channels are free-to-air:

A. Under Radio Televisyen Malaysia (Federal Government-operated channels):

1. TV1

2. TV2

3. RTM Sports HD

4. RTM Bes HD

5. TV Okey

B. Under Media Prima Berhad (Private):

1. Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3)

2. Natseven TV Sdn Bhd (ntv7)

3. Metropolitan TV Sdn Bhd (8TV)

4. CH-9 Media Sdn Bhd (TV9)

5. CJ Wow Shop (operated by TV3)

C. Alhijrah Media Corporation (JAKIM-operated channel)

1. TV Alhijrah

D. Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (BERNAMA) (Government news agency)

1. Bernama News Channel

Hotel-only in-house video channel

1. Vision Four Multimedia Sdn Bhd (Vision Four)

Subscription Broadcasting providers:

Cable-based

1. Asian Broadcasting Network (M) Sdn Bhd (ABNXcess) (Defunct)

Satellite-based

1. Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd (Astro)

IP over UHF-based transmission-based

1. U Television Sdn Bhd (MiTV) (Defunct)

IPTV-based

1. Fine TV Network Sdn Bhd (Fine TV) (Defunct)

2. eTV Multimedia Sdn Bhd (DETV) (Defunct)

3. TM Net Sdn Bhd (unifi TV)

Internet

Internet Users: 28.304 million (2018)[1]

Country code (Top level domain): MY

[1] Internet user population is calculated from Internet Users Survey 2018 (IUS 2018) based on 87.4% of total population of Malaysia in 2018 (32.385 mil). Population data from Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM).

See also

• History of Communications in Malaysia
• Internet in Malaysia
• Malaysian telephone codes
• Malaysian mobile phone codes
• Media of Malaysia