DNB facing uphill battle if telcos don’t bite, say critics

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: Critics are calling for a review of the decision to appoint Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to operate the 5G network following a report that all local telecommunications companies (telcos) are unwilling to sign up.

They say the disgruntlement among telco executives points to an uphill battle for the special purpose vehicle (SPV) which was set up by the government earlier this year to build and manage the network.

A Reuters report on Wednesday quoted several sources as saying none of the local mobile players have agreed to use Putrajaya’s 5G network, which was rolled out on Wednesday, citing transparency and pricing issues.

However, in another news report, DNB was reported to have said that it had not begun formal negotiations with providers as the necessary offer documents have yet to be finalised.

Speaking to FMT, PKR treasurer Lee Chean Chung said the stand-off between telcos and DNB would only delay the 5G rollout and jeopardise the country’s digitalisation ambitions and the mobile economy.

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