Malaysia Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 1 Oct 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 119

Analyst: Sebastien De Rosbo

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Malaysia’s 5G to be supported by new multi-spectrum auctions

Malaysia has developed one of the more advanced telecom networks in Asia, with a focus on deploying new technologies. There is considerable fibre infrastructure in place, while the network operators have made considerable progress in 5G, using a number of vendors. To this end the government and regulator have striven to make available spectrum in a range of bands for 5G use.

Fixed-line penetration in Malaysia has been stagnant for some years though the long-term trend is for it to decline as customers migrate to the mobile platform for voice services. In addition, the growing reach of fibre broadband has reduced the need for people to have a fixed line in order to access broadband services based on DSL.

The telecom sector, whilst still expanding and developing, has undergone a period of consolidation in recent years. Substantial government participation in ICT development has also been a characteristic of the market, with the government having strongly backed the five-year National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan.

The fixed broadband market remains underdeveloped, though Telekom Malaysia’s fibre-based services on the HSBB network has progressed and the company has engaged in a number of wholesale access agreements with other operators to enable them to provide services in areas of the country where their networks do not reach. Telekom Malaysia is itself rolling out a last mile access network based on a combination of FttP, ethernet and VDSL2 technologies.

Malaysia’s mobile market is relatively developed compared to other Asian markets. There was a slight decline in the first quarter and the sector is expected to remain under pressure through to 2021 at least given the measures imposed by the government in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19. It is predicted that 5G will be used widely in Malaysia by 2022-2023. Mobile operators continue to carry out 5G trials as they work towards this date.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key Developments

Continued slow growth in broadband penetration predicted during the next few years;
Government further develops its National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan;
5G launches to be supported by new multi-spectrum auctions;
Report update includes the regulator’s market data for Q1 2020, telcos’ operating and financial data to Q2 2020, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Axiata, Maxis Communications, U Mobile; DiGi; Altel; Alcatel Lucent; ZTE, TMNet; Telekom Malaysia; Celcom Axiata; Green Packet/Packet One Networks (P1); REDtone; Asiaspace; YTL; TIME dotCom, Fibrecomm.

Key statistics
Regional Asian Market Comparison
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market overview and analysis
Historical overview

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
Fixed-line developments

Telecom legislation
Telecom sector liberalisation
Privatisation
Universal Service Provision (USP)
Licences

Mobile network developments

Mobile Number Portability (NP)
Spectrum

Mobile market

Market overview and analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics

Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

Celcom Axiata
Maxis Communications
Digi Communications
U Mobile
MVNOs

Mobile content and applications

m-commerce

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Fixed broadband service providers

Telekom Malaysia
Time dotCom

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) 2019-2023
High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) network
Other fixed broadband services

Wi-Fi
WiMAX

Digital economy

e-Government
e-payments

Fixed network operators

Telekom Malaysia

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
Fibre networks
International infrastructure

International gateways
Satellite
Submarine networks
Submarine system developments

Data Centres
Smart infrastructure

Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart Cities

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – T Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Malaysia – 2020 (e)
Table 2 – Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2017 - 2019
Table 3 – Percentage of Population Covered by Type of Mobile Network
Table 4 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 5 – Change in the number of contract and prepaid mobile subscribers and market share – 2010 – 2020
Table 6 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by platform – 2018 - 2020
Table 7 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2017 – 2019
Table 8 – Change in the number of Digi’s LTE subscribers – 2015 – 2019
Table 9 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 - 2025
Table 10 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by platform – 2018 - 2019
Table 11 - Mobile subscribers and market share by operator – 2019
Table 12 – Development of Celcom’s financial data - 2013 – 2020
Table 13 – Change in the number of Celcom’s mobile subscribers - 2011 – 2020
Table 14 – Development of Celcom’s mobile ARPU – 2011 – 2020
Table 15 – Increase in Celcom’s smartphone penetration – 2014 – 2020
Table 16 – Growth in Celcom’s mobile data use – 2015 – 2020
Table 17 – Celcom – LTE/LTE-A population coverage – 2016 – 2020
Table 18 – Development of Maxis’s financial data - 2015 – 2020
Table 19 – Change in the number of Maxis’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2020
Table 20 – Change in the number of Maxis’s wireless broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2020
Table 21 – Change in Maxis’s mobile ARPU – 2015 – 2020
Table 22 – Maxis’ smartphone penetration – 2013 – 2019
Table 23 – Development of Digi’s financial data - 2013 – 2020
Table 24 – Change in the number of Digi’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Table 25 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2025
Table 26 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate – 2017 – 2020
Table 27 – Change in the percentage of households with internet access/computer - 2010 – 2019
Table 28 – Change in the number of Telekom Malaysia’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Table 29 – Change in Telekom Malaysia’s ARPU by service – 2011 – 2020
Table 30 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s capex – 2010 – 2020
Table 31 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s financial data – 2011 – 2020
Table 32 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2025
Table 33 – Change in the number of PSTN, VoIP lines – 2016 – 2019
Table 34 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2010 – 2019
Table 35 – Historic - fixed lines in service and penetration – 1995 – 2006
Table 36 – Historic - mobile subscribers, annual growth and penetration rate – 1995 – 2011
Table 37 – Historic - DSL subscribers – 2001 - 2013
Table 38 – Historic - Internet users and Penetration – 1995 – 2011
Table 39 – Historic – Telekom Malaysia, Fixed broadband subscribers – FttX v. DSL - 2013 – 2015
Table 40 – Historic - Postpaid and prepaid mobile subscribers and market share – 2002 – 2009
Table 41 – Historic - Celcom mobile subscribers, prepaid and postpaid - 2005 – 2010
Table 42 – Historic - Development of Celcom’s mobile ARPU – 2008 – 2010
Table 43 – Historic - Maxis mobile ARPU – 2007 – 2010
Table 44 – Historic - Telekom Malaysia capex – 2007 – 2009
Table 45 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 1999 – 2009
Table 46 – Historic - Telekom Malaysia – Fixed Broadband Subscribers – 2003 – 2009
Table 47 – Historic - Digi mobile subscribers – 2006 – 2009
Table 48 – Percentage of households with internet access/computer - 2007 – 2009
Table 49 – Historic - Telekom Malaysia’s fixed-line subscribers – 2007 – 2017

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Asian Telecoms Maturity Index by Market Category
Chart 2 – Asian Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 – Telecoms Maturity Index – South East Asia
Chart 4 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 5 – Change in the number of contract and prepaid mobile subscribers and market share – 2010 – 2020
Chart 6 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by platform – 2018 - 2020
Chart 7 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 - 2025
Chart 8 – Development of Celcom’s financial data - 2013 – 2020
Chart 9 – Change in the number of Celcom’s mobile subscribers - 2011 – 2020
Chart 10 – Development of Celcom’s mobile ARPU – 2011 – 2020
Chart 11 – Development of Maxis’s financial data - 2015 – 2020
Chart 12 – Change in the number of Maxis’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2020
Chart 13 – Change in Maxis’s mobile ARPU – 2015 – 2020
Chart 14 – Development of Digi’s financial data - 2013 – 2020
Chart 15 – Change in the number of Digi’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Chart 16 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2025
Chart 17 – Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by data rate – 2018 – 2020
Chart 18 – Change in the number of Telekom Malaysia’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2020
Chart 19 – Change in Telekom Malaysia’s ARPU by service – 2011 – 2020
Chart 20 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s capex – 2010 – 2020
Chart 21 – Development of Telekom Malaysia’s financial data – 2011 – 2020
Chart 22 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2025

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Key Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 – South East Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
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’s 5G to be supported by new multi-spectrum auctions

Key Developments

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Asian Market Comparison

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views