马来西亚的5G SWN：会变成什么样子

Malaysia’s 5G SWN: what change could look like INSIGHT SPOTLIGHT Press reports suggest the government in Malaysia may beconsidering a change to its 5G network strategy, two yearsafter the decision to adopt a single wholesale network (SWN)approach.1As yet, there is no confirmation the government Malaysia regards itself as a digital player with a youngpopulation and high-growth economy, but in using an SWN itopted for an unconventional approach. This Insight Spotlight Analysis The retail-led model with voluntary infrastructure sharing is the mostpopular around the world because it is market-based and technology-neutral. It allows operators to compete using their own spectrum or bypooling it (active sharing). Network coverage and quality are keycompetitive differentiators, affording cost savings from sharing, andincentivising innovation. In Malaysia’s case, it would potentially release acache of network capex from theoperators,vendors and cloud groupstargeted at national builds and more localised private networks forenterprise customers. In theory, SWNs deliver similar advantages by The SWN decision and its impact The Malaysian government decided to proceed with the SWN approachto national 5G rollout in 2021, finalising the agreement in March 2022.The SWN operator–Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB)–would takeresponsibility for infrastructure rollout. Ericsson was selected as the maininfrastructure equipment supplier to DNB.2Each of the operators couldsign access agreements and had the option for equity stakes up to a total The SWN strategy was seen as the most economical means of extending5G coverage at pace, particularly to low-density, rural areas. DNB reportsthat 5G coverage reached 47% in populated areas at the end of 2022,ahead of a 40% target. However, 5G adoption stands at only 1% ofconsumers, which is behind Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, On the rural challenge, experience in other countries shows there aremore effective targeted solutions to fill coverage gaps while maintaininginfrastructure competition. These include shared rural networks (e.g.inthe UK, New Zealand and Türkiye) and reducing spectrum costs in returnfor network investment in rural areas (e.g.in Sweden, France and Only three of the four largest operators (Celcom, Digi and U Mobile),which serve around 65% of Malaysia’s mobile subscribers, have signedaccess agreements with DNB. Maxis, the largest group with a 27% share,has yet to sign–despite the government originally hoping to have all Source: GSMA Intelligence Routes to 5G national scale Malaysia started later than others in 5G–and with co-dependencies.Delays to contracting with licensees have constrained the pace at which5G base stations can be laid. 5G coverage has expanded to a meaningfullevel in built-up areas over the last 12 months, but this is the low hanging If there were to be a change in course,a number ofpotential optionscould immediately provide more flexibility, including retail-ledcompetition where operators offer 5G on their networks, use ofalternative network sharing agreements, and maintaining an SWN but Implications Mobile operators Government •Responsive and flexible policy–A key objective of SWNs is to achievenationwide coverage (including rural areas). However, the history ofSWNs shows this is rarely achieved. Many SWNs have failed tomaterialise or have been significantly delayed (e.g. in Kenya, Russia andSouth Africa). Of those that took effect, most did not achieve universalcoverage, including in Mexico where the 4G wholesale network providerfiled for bankruptcy in 2021 and required additional government spendto bail it out in 2022 (it is still falling short of its original coverage •Collaboration and innovation will be critical–While a review of theSWN would be welcomed by mobile operators, significant uncertaintyremains. It is possible that the SWN will continue, either in its currentshape or as a reformed entity. Alternatively, the government couldintroduce a more flexible framework that fosters greater market-basedcompetition. This uncertainty is likely to impact 5G deployment and •The benefits of sharing–A key objective of the SWN is to reducenetwork deployment costs and increase resource efficiency. However,this comes at the expense of network competition, which has been shown to drive innovation and investment. Furthermore, operatorshave achieved the same network efficiencies by engaging in voluntary network sharing. A GSMA and World Bankstudyof seven Sub-SaharanAfrican markets showed that active sharing can deliver similar levels of •Infrastructure competition drives innovation–The propensity toinnovate is reduced in an SWN environment where no infrastructurecompetition exists. However, infrastructure competition is a keyunderpinning for innovation, whether in private networks, edge computeor open RAN. The latter has gained momentum in many countries as ameans to reduce cost, increase agility and drive vendor competition. •Lear