04 June 2025
Telekom Malaysia (TM) has announced a significant new partnership with U Mobile, Malaysia’s second 5G network operator, confirming its role as the provider of fibre backhaul infrastructure in a deal valued at MYR2.4 billion over the next decade.
This strategic alliance positions TM at the core of U Mobile’s ambitious 5G rollout across the country, enabling the operator to leverage TM’s extensive fibre network to accelerate the deployment of its 5G services.
Under the terms of the agreement, TM will supply U Mobile with a comprehensive suite of backhaul infrastructure services. This includes fibre leased-line access to support U Mobile’s 5G radio access networks (RANs), leasing data centre and TM Edge Facility spaces for points of interconnect, and trunk leased lines to facilitate inter-regional connectivity. By utilizing TM’s vast fibre footprint — which stretches over 740,000km and offers the widest fibre backhaul coverage in Malaysia — U Mobile aims to expedite its nationwide 5G coverage, targeting 80% of populated areas within the first 12 months of deployment.
U Mobile’s CEO Wong Heang Tuck emphasized that the partnership would play a crucial role in enhancing the speed, reliability, and capacity of Malaysia’s 5G services. He highlighted the importance of TM’s extensive fibre infrastructure in supporting a highly reliable 5G experience capable of delivering ultra-fast speeds and supporting massive capacity, which will benefit both consumers and enterprises nationwide. Wong also reiterated U Mobile’s commitment to delivering a superior 5G network, with coverage expanding rapidly to meet the demands of Malaysia’s digital transformation.
This deal follows U Mobile’s earlier move in July 2024, prior to its official designation as Malaysia’s second 5G provider, when it entered into a similar agreement with Time dotCom. That collaboration involves developing customised backhaul solutions tailored to U Mobile’s deployment strategy and technical requirements, further underscoring the operator’s strategic focus on building a robust, nationwide 5G infrastructure through key partnerships.
