Maxis announced today that it has been allocated 2x10MHz of 900MHz and 2x20MHz of 1800MHz for 15 years, with full implementation starting 1 July 2017.
Full media statement from Maxis below:
[box type=”note” align=”aligncenter” ]We refer to MCMC’s statement on the reallocation of spectrum dated 1 February. Maxis received yesterday a notice of spectrum reallocation of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, which would reduce the spectrum available to 2 x 10 MHz and 2 x 20 MHz respectively.
We note MCMC’s decision to convert the annual Apparatus Assignment fee to an upfront Spectrum Assignment fee with long term certainty for the spectrum. We also note that MCMC recognises that this fee needs to be seen in the perspective of the continuous high investment level the industry will need to reach national goals.
We also note the Commission’s focus on expanding the available spectrum for mobile broadband, notably the 700 MHz as well as optimising the 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz bands.
We only received the notice yesterday, and will make further announcement when we have carried out detailed review and further clarity on this subject matter.[/box]
Yesterday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that spectrum in the 900Mhz & 1800Mhz bands will be reallocated among 4 Telcos (Maxis, Celcom, Digi & U Mobile) by August 2016 for full implementation by 1 July 2017.
These two bands of spectrum will be assigned for a fee to Maxis, Celcom, Digi and U Mobile for a period of 15 years.
Currently, the spectrum on 900MHz and 1800MHz are being held by the 3 big Telcos; Maxis, Celcom and Digi. It was originally assigned for 2G network. However, for the past few years, it isn’t exclusively used for 2G networks anymore.
At the moment, part of Celcom 3G and Maxis 3G network are currently running on 900Mhz. Maxis, Celcom and Digi have also used 1800Mhz to build its new 4G LTE network around the country.
The 900Mhz spectrum is now being occupied by Maxis, Celcom and DiGi with 32MHz, 34MHz and 4MHz respectively. In the 1800Mhz band, all the 3 Telcos (Maxis, Celcom, Digi) each has a 50Mhz spectrum.
