Malaysia Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 21 Oct 2026 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 202

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Malaysia completes shift from single to dual 5G network model

As part of a diverse range of economic development initiatives, Malaysia has enabled and encouraged open competition in its telecommunications market. The result is very high penetration in both the mobile and mobile broadband segments, and near-universal LTE coverage. Growth in the 5G sector has been very rapid since services were launched in 2022. The country in mid-2026 completed the transition from its single wholesale 5G network model to a competitive dual-network framework.

The incumbent telco Telekom Malaysia retains an almost monopolistic hold on the fixed-line market and has a significant lead in the fixed broadband segment. The company has largely scrapped its legacy copper network in preference for fibre. More fibre networks are being deployed around the country to complement Telekom Malaysia’s national backbone. Operators such as Maxis have seen rapid growth in the number of fibre subscribers, in part due to the migration of existing fixed wireless broadband subscribers to faster fibre networks.

Consumers are the main beneficiaries of the highly competitive market. They enjoy widespread access to high-speed mobile services as well as attractive offers on bundles to encourage greater data use while competition keeps end-user prices low. The downside is that Malaysia’s MNOs and MVNOs have struggled to increase revenue in line with growth in the number of subscribers and with greater demand for broadband data. While the operators have successfully migrated a significant proportion of customers from prepaid to higher-value postpaid accounts, ARPU remains under pressure due to competitive pricing. The overcrowded mobile market saw some consolidation in 2022 when Digi and Celcom merged, creating CelcomDigi. The new entity is better placed to provide cheaper services to customers through improved economies of scale.

Key Developments

Malaysia expands its data centre capacity.
U Mobile exits from DNB and launches its separate 5G-A network.
REDtone becomes a reseller for Starlink’s satellite broadband service.
Report update includes the regulator's industry performance report, telecom sector data to March 2026 and annual reports, telcos' operating and financial data to Q2 2026, recent market developments.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Telekom Malaysia, TIME dotCom, Maxis Communications, Celcom Axiata, Digi, CelcomDigi, U Mobile, Altel

Key statistics
Regional Asia market comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Government support

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Telecom sector liberalisation
Communications and Multimedia Act 1998
Privatisation
Universal Service Provision (USP)
Communication Infrastructure Planning Guidelines (GPP-I)

Mobile network developments

Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Spectrum
Quality of Service
SIM card registration

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

Prepaid

Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
Mobile broadband
M-payments

Major mobile operators

Maxis Communications
Digi Communications
Celcom Axiata
CelcomDigi
U Mobile
MVNOs

Fixed-line broadband market

JENDELA
JENDELA+
Broadband statistics
Fixed broadband service providers

Telekom Malaysia
Time dotCom

DSL
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Wi-Fi
WiMAX
Satellite broadband

Fixed network market

Major network operator

Telekom Malaysia

Telecommunications infrastructure

High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) network
National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP)
International infrastructure

International gateways
Internet exchange points
Satellite communications
Submarine networks
Submarine system developments

Smart infrastructure

Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart Cities
Data centres

Digital economy

e-economy
e-health

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Malaysia – 2027 (e)
Table 2 – Change in the market capitalisation of the telecom sector – 2018 – 2026
Table 3 – Development of telecom sector revenue – 2018 – 2024
Table 4 – Change in the share of telecom sector revenue by key operator– 2019 – 2024
Table 5 – Forecasted telecom service revenue by sector (RMB billion)– 2022 – 2029
Table 6 – Development of telecom sector capex by sector (RMB billion) – 2018 – 2024
Table 7 – Change in the number of licences by type – 2022 – 2024
Table 8 – Change in the number of network licences by type – 2014 – 2024
Table 9 – Change in the number of postpaid mobile number portings – 2012 – 2024
Table 10 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2029
Table 11 – Change in the number of contract and prepaid mobile subscribers and market share – 2012 – 2026
Table 12 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2024
Table 13 – Change in average mobile ARPU among MNOs (RMB/month) – 2017 – 2024
Table 14 – Development of LTE and 5G coverage in populated areas – 2020 – 2024
Table 16 – Change in the number of Digi’s LTE subscribers – 2015 – 2020
Table 19 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by MNO – 2012 – 2025
Table 20 – Development of Maxis’s financial data (RM million) – 2012 – 2026
Table 21 – Development of Maxis’s consumer mobile revenue by type (RM million) – 2018 – 2026
Table 22 – Change in the number of Maxis’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2015 – 2026
Table 23 – Change in the number of Maxis’s consumer mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2026
Table 24 – Increase in Maxis’s mobile data use by segment (GB/month) – 2015 – 2026
Table 25 – Change in Maxis’s consumer mobile ARPU (RM/month) – 2012 – 2026
Table 26 – Change in the number of Maxis’s wireless broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2026
Table 27 – Change in the number of Digi’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2022
Table 28 – Development of Digi’s financial data (RM million) – 2012 – 2022
Table 29 – Development of Digi’s mobile revenue by contract/prepaid subscribers (RM million) – 2019 – 2022
Table 30 – Change in Digi’s mobile ARPU (RM/month) – 2012 – 2022
Table 31 – Development of Celcom’s financial data (RM million) – 2012 – 2022
Table 32 – Change in the number of Celcom’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2022
Table 33 – Development of Celcom’s mobile ARPU (RM / month) – 2012 – 2022
Table 34 – Increase in Celcom’s smartphone penetration – 2014 – 2021
Table 35 – Development of Celcom’s LTE/LTE-A population coverage – 2014 – 2022
Table 36 – Growth in Celcom’s mobile data use – 2015 – 2022
Table 37 – Development of CelcomDigi’s service revenue by type (old style, RM million) – 2022 – 2023
Table 38 – Development of CelcomDigi’s consumer service revenue by type (RM million) – 2023 – 2026
Table 39 – Development of CelcomDigi’s business service revenue by type (RM million) – 2023 – 2026
Table 40 – Development of CelcomDigi’s financial data (RM million) – 2022 – 2026
Table 41 – Development of CelcomDigi’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2022 – 2026
Table 42 – Change in CelcomDigi’s mobile ARPU (RM/month) – 2023 – 2026
Table 43 – Increase in the number of U Mobile’s mobile subscribers – 2022 – 2025
Table 44 – Development of REDTone’s financial data (RM million) – 2019 – 2026
Table 45 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2029
Table 46 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate – 2019 – 2026
Table 47 – Change in the number of Telekom Malaysia’s fixed broadband subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2026
Table 48 – Change in Telekom Malaysia’s Unifi revenue – 2019 – 2026
Table 49 – Decline in the number of DSL broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2024
Table 50 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2024
Table 51 – Increase in the number of CelcomDigi’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2022 – 2026
Table 52 – Increase in the number of Maxis’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2018 – 2026
Table 53 – Increase in Maxis’s fixed broadband revenue – 2021 – 2026
Table 54 – Change in the number of satellite broadband subscribers – 2019 – 2024
Table 55 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s financial data (RM billion) – 2012 – 2026
Table 56 – Change in the value of Telekom Malaysia’s assets and liabilities (RM million) – 2020 – 2026
Table 57 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s revenue by service (RM million) – 2016 – 2026
Table 58 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s revenue by business unit (RM million) – 2020 – 2026
Table 59 – Change in Telekom Malaysia’s ARPU by service (RM/month) – 2012 – 2026
Table 60 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s capex – 2012 – 2026
Table 61 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2014 – 2029
Table 62 – Development of MyIX domestic traffic – 2017 – 2024
Table 63 – Increase in international internet bandwidth capacity and usage (Mb/s)– 2013 – 2024
Table 64 – Increase in e-commerce revenue – 2020 – 2024
Table 65 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1995 – 2006
Table 66 – Historic - mobile subscribers, penetration rate, and annual growth – 1996 – 2013
Table 68 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2013
Table 69 – Historic - DSL subscribers – 2001 – 2011
Table 70 – Historic - Internet users and Penetration – 1996 – 2011
Table 71 – Historic - Postpaid and prepaid mobile subscribers and market share – 2002 – 2011
Table 72 – Historic - Celcom mobile subscribers, prepaid and postpaid – 2005 – 2011
Table 73 – Historic - Development of Celcom’s mobile ARPU (RM/month) – 2008 – 2011
Table 74 – Historic - Maxis mobile ARPU (RM/month) – 2007 – 2011
Table 75 – Historic - Telekom Malaysia capex – 2007 – 2011
Table 76 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 1999 – 2011
Table 77 – Historic - Telekom Malaysia - Fixed Broadband Subscribers – 2003 – 2011
Table 78 – Historic - Digi mobile subscribers (million) – 2006 – 2011
Table 79 – Historic - Percentage of households with internet access/computer – 2007 – 2011
Table 80 – Historic - Telekom Malaysia’s fixed-line subscribers – 2007 – 2017

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Asia – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Southeast Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Southeast Asia – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Change in the share of telecom sector revenue by key operator– 2019 – 2024
Chart 9 – Development of telecom sector capex by sector – 2018 – 2024
Chart 10 – Change in the number of network licences by type – 2014 – 2024
Chart 11 – Change in the number of postpaid mobile number portings – 2012 – 2024
Chart 12 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2029
Chart 13 – Change in the number of contract and prepaid mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2026
Chart 14 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2024
Chart 15 – Change in average mobile ARPU among MNOs – 2017 – 2024
Chart 16 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2029
Chart 17 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by platform – 2020 – 2026
Chart 18 – Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by MNO – 2012 – 2025
Chart 19 – Development of Maxis’s financial data – 2012 – 2026
Chart 20 – Development of Maxis’s consumer mobile revenue by type – 2018 – 2026
Chart 21 – Change in the number of Maxis’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2026
Chart 22 – Change in the number of Maxis’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2026
Chart 23 – Increase in Maxis’s mobile data use by segment – 2015 – 2026
Chart 24 – Change in Maxis’s consumer mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2026
Chart 25 – Change in the number of Maxis’s wireless broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2026
Chart 26 – Change in the number of Digi’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 27 – Development of Digi’s financial data – 2012 – 2022
Chart 28 – Development of Digi’s mobile revenue by contract/prepaid subscribers – 2019 – 2022
Chart 29 – Change in Digi’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2022
Chart 30 – Development of Celcom’s financial data – 2012 – 2022
Chart 31 – Change in the number of Celcom’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 32 – Development of Celcom’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2022
Chart 33 – Development of CelcomDigi’s consumer service revenue by type – 2023 – 2026
Chart 34 – Development of CelcomDigi’s financial data – 2022 – 2026
Chart 35 – Development of CelcomDigi’s mobile subscribers – 2022 – 2026
Chart 36 – Change in CelcomDigi’s mobile ARPU – 2023 – 2026
Chart 37 – Development of REDTone’s financial data – 2019 – 2026
Chart 38 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2029
Chart 39 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate – 2019 – 2026
Chart 40 – Change in the number of Telekom Malaysia’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2026
Chart 41 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 42 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2024
Chart 43 – Increase in the number of Maxis’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2018 – 2026
Chart 44 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s financial data – 2012 – 2026
Chart 45 – Change in the value of Telekom Malaysia’s assets and liabilities – 2020 – 2026
Chart 46 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s revenue by service – 2016 – 2026
Chart 47 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s revenue by business unit – 2020 – 2026
Chart 48 – Change in Telekom Malaysia’s ARPU by service – 2012 – 2026
Chart 49 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s capex – 2012 – 2026
Chart 50 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2014 – 2029

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Asia
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Key international submarine cable systems with landing points in Malaysia

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Malaysia Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Malaysia completes shift from single to dual 5G network model

Key Developments

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Asia market comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network market

Telecommunications infrastructure

Digital economy

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views