Page 80 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

DNB Integrates Five MNOS into its Wholesale 5G Network

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), Malaysia’s sole 5G coverage capacity (commitment to minimum capacity to provide coverage
wholesale service operator, has successfully across all commissioned units built); additional capacity (option to add
integrated five mobile network operators (MNOs) into capacity for specific areas); and buffer capacity (additional further capacity
its 5G network, The Edge Markets reports. According to catered for peak seasons). Ahmad Taufek also sought to stress that the
the local press outlet, during DNB’s 5G Multi-Operator prices DNB offers to MNOs are ‘definitely not discriminatory’, with all MNOs
Core Network (MOCN) event it demonstrated having offered the same price for its 5G network. He did, though, note: ‘However,
incorporated Celcom Axiata, Digi Telecommunications, bigger MNOs will have larger requirements and therefore prices will be
Maxis, Telekom Malaysia, and U Mobile in its fifth- affected. But once we give the bigger MNO that [modified] price, the other
generation network. Integration of a sixth MNO is said MNOs can also request for the same price. There is no such thing as a
to be slated ‘at a later date’, meanwhile. DNB claims different price for each MNO.’ In July 2021 DNB selected Ericsson for the
that the development represents the world’s first 5G end-to-end development of its 5G infrastructure, and the wholesale operator
RAN trial integration with more than two MNOs, with is now aiming to switch on its 5G network in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and
CEO Ralph Marshall noting that this had been made Cyberjaya in December 2021 as part of an initial launch phase. Looking
possible through the network’s MOCN functionality, ahead, DNB expects to achieve 40% coverage ‘in populated areas’ by the end
which allows a network operator to provide access to of 2022, with its infrastructure to subsequently be extended to cover other
a single RAN by a number of other operators. ‘Each urban and rural areas and industrial parks, with a target of approximately
operator operates its own core network, including one 80% population coverage by end of 2024.
or more independent nodes. Each of these multiple
core networks can communicate with each other as
peers through the software,’ the executive explained.
Additionally, Marshall said that later next year, DNB’s
5G network will be able to integrate up to twelve
MNOs. Commenting on the integration demonstration,
Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Minister
Tan Sri Annuar Musa said that DNB’s 5G network
seamless integration with each MNO’s existing
core platforms would eliminate costly duplication in
infrastructure investments and drive lower prices for
end users. ‘This will further enable the accelerated
adoption of 5G services in Malaysia and narrow the
digital divide,’ the minister said. Meanwhile, DNB’s
Chief Commercial Officer Ahmad Taufek Omar claimed
that the wholesale operator is charging MNOs for its
5G network only as a form of cost recovery, revealing
that its charging model comprises three mechanisms:

Veon Bangladesh Unit to Use Nationwide Wholesale Network

Veon’s Bangladesh subsidiary is to Jabbar. Just before the ceremony users, 33% of its total customer base. “Our
use the country’s national wholesale Banglalink announced revenue growth entertainment app Toffee continued to lead
network provided by BTCL. The company, of 7.2% year-on-year despite the impact our progress in the digital service segment
Banglalink, announced that has joined of lockdown, said Aas. “Banglalink’s with its active user-base reaching 6.3
rivals Teletalk, Grameenphone and Robi to performance in 3Q21 is yet another million.” He said that Veon is considering
use the BTCL network recently. Erik Aas, reflection of efforts in providing quality listing of the Bangladesh company on the
the CEO of Banglalink, signed the deal to digital services in Bangladesh. Thanks country’s share market. “The decision …
use the nationwide telecommunication to a staggering 32% year-on-year data depends on the shareholders of the mother
transmission network at a meeting with revenue growth, we managed to post a company, not by the management of the
BTCL managing director Rafiqul Matin in 7.2% year-on-year total revenue growth company,” he said.
the presence of the country’s posts and in this quarter,” he said. Aas said that
telecommunications minister, Mostafa Banglalink is now serving 11.4 million 4G

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