Page 117 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Malaysia Gears Up for Second 5G player as DNB Hits Coverage Target

Malaysia’s wholesale 5G network operator second 5G operator, the report said. “The last month, DNB’s operator stakeholders
Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) now covers just government will not take long to consider will be able to decide among themselves
over 80% of populated areas, clearing the and make an announcement of a shift from who stays in DNB and who moves over
final criteria for the creation of a second 5G single to dual 5G network coverage. After to the second 5G operator, although
operator. According to the Bernama news that, the dual 5G [network coverage] can MCMC has the final say. In related news,
agency, Communications Minister Fahmi be implemented if the terms agreed by the Bernama also reported Wednesday that the
Fadzil said on Wednesday that 5G network task force are achieved,” Fahmi was quoted Malaysian government decided to place
coverage in Malaysia reached 80.2% in as saying. Last month, according to media DNB under the purview of the Ministry of
populated areas as of December 31. Last reports, Fahmi Fadzil said the second 5G Digital. This follows last month’s cabinet
year, the government began making plans to operator will be strictly commercial, with reshuffle that saw, among other changes,
transition from the current Single Wholesale no government ownership. The Ministry the Ministry of Communications and
Network (SWN) 5G model to a Dual of Finance (MOF) holds a 30% stake in Digital split into separate entities. Prime
Network (DN) model. As part of that plan, DNB, while the rest is split between the Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at the time
the government had said it would wait until country’s five operators: Telekom Malaysia, that the digital sector in Malaysia needs a
DNB’s 5G network covers 80% of populated Maxis, U Mobile, YTL and CelcomDigi (via dedicated ministry, partly because digital
areas. Fahmi said now that the coverage Infranation). Once the second 5G operator transformation is a major plank of the unity
target has been achieved, the Special Task is officially greenlighted, the MOF has the government, but also because the digital
Force on 5G will meet on Friday to work option to exit DNB. Under the terms of sector itself is rapidly evolving.
out the specific roadmap for setting up the share subscription agreements signed

Wi-Fi Alliance Begins Wi-Fi 7 Certification

2028. Early adopters include smartphones, testbed for certification. This ensures that
PCs, tablets, and access points, with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 devices meet the
customer premises equipment and AR/VR highest standards. Kevin Robinson,
equipment gaining traction. President and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, said:
Key features include: “This certification underscores our
• 320 MHz channels, enabling ultra-wide relentless commitment to delivering
channels for multigigabit speeds cutting-edge technology that redefines the
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO), facilitating way users experience Wi-Fi.” As the Wi-Fi
simultaneous data transmission and 7 ecosystem expands, companies like
The Wi-Fi Alliance has begun the reception over multiple links Airties, Boingo, Broadcom, RUCKUS
certification process for Wi-Fi 7, ushering • 4K QAM, achieving 20 percent higher Networks, Intel, MaxLinear, MediaTek, and
in a new era of wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi transmission rates than its predecessor Qualcomm are at the forefront, actively
CERTIFIED 7 provides confidence to end- • 512 Compressed block-ack, improving participating in the certification process.
users they’ll benefit from new features efficiency and reducing overhead Metin Taskin, Co-CEO of Airties, highlighted
designed to enhance performance and • Multiple RUs to a single STA, enhancing the potential of Wi-Fi 7 to support
connectivity across various environments. spectrum efficiency through improved broadband service providers’ plans and
The latest iteration of Wi-Fi promises spectrum resource scheduling flexibility improve overall user experience: “Wi-Fi 7
significant advancements, catering to • Triggered Uplink Access to accommodate provides unprecedented capacity and
emerging technologies such as multi-user latency-sensitive streams spectrum efficiency to support far more
augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), • Emergency Preparedness connections and immersive applications.
and extended reality (XR). The certification, Communication Services (EPCS) “By embracing smart Wi-Fi software that is
a result of extensive collaboration for seamless emergency service truly standards-based, open-source, and
within Wi-Fi Alliance, ensures global experiences hardware-agnostic, ISPs can gain
interoperability and a robust device Wi-Fi 7’s introduction has garnered maximum flexibility and control over
ecosystem. Wi-Fi 7 is poised for rapid support from industry leaders, with subscribers’ home broadband experience.”
adoption, with over 233 million devices companies like Broadcom, CommScope,
expected to hit the market in 2024 and a RUCKUS Networks, Intel, MaxLinear,
staggering 2.1 billion devices projected by MediaTek, and Qualcomm forming the

117 JANUARY-MARCH 2024