Freshly merged Malaysian operator CelcomDigi will buy Huawei and ZTE equipment for its nationwide network integration and modernisation project.
In a statement, CelcomDigi hailed the project as one of the largest telecom network deployment projects in the country following the merger of rivals Celcom and Digi in December 2022.
Under the various agreements, CelcomDigi will upgrade its RAN with the latest technologies from both Chinese vendors, to provide customers with wider coverage, high speeds and consistent service.
The work will also pave the way to a “seamless” transition to a new 5G network with an 18,000-site reach. The company will aim to avoid duplication in its spectrum portfolio and deploy 900MHz o spectrum at all sites to boost coverage and indoor service quality. Populated locations nationwide will see coverage improve from 96% to 98% when the project is complete.
To fund the modernisation project CelcomDigi will reinvest 15% to 18% of total revenue in capex. The project is expected to be completed in three years' time.
CelcomDigi CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi signed local supply agreements with Huawei Malaysia CEO Simon Sun, and ZTE SVP Mei Zhonghua. The signing was witnessed by Communications and Digital Minister YB Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman, Tan Sri Mohamad Salim bin Fateh Din, and CelcomDigi’s Chair of the Board, YM Tengku Dato’ Sri Azmil Zahruddin.
“Our integrated and modernised network will be a critical piece in driving CelcomDigi’s ambitions to be the new digital growth engine for the nation that supports the seamless coexistence and evolution of 4G/LTE and future technologies, including 5G,” said Nawawi.
