Market share of mobile subscribers in Malaysia 2022

In 2022, Maxis held the largest share of mobile subscribers in Malaysia with 27.5 percent of the market share. DiGi followed closely behind with 22 percent. These two, along with Celcom and U Mobile, are the major mobile telecommunication service providers in Malaysia.

Future of 5G adoption

Although the information and communication technology industry was not the biggest industry in Malaysia, it still contributed a small percentage to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Connectivity was also not an issue, with the majority of the population in Malaysia already having access to the 4G network.

Nevertheless, the Malaysian government wanted to revamp the ICT industry with the latest 5G technology. In 2021, the previous government announced the plan for the state-owned agency Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to own the full 5G spectrum. As of now, Malaysia still lags behind in the adoption of 5G technology, unlike some other countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Change in industry’s landscape

Maxis and DiGi have always been neck-to-neck as the key market players in the mobile telecommunications industry. The total revenue of both Maxis and DiGi reached billions of Malaysian ringgit and has remained steady for the past couple of years.

The mobile telecommunication landscape in Malaysia will likely change in 2023 with a successful merger between DiGi and Celcom in November 2022. With its number of mobile subscribers steadily increasing in the past year, Celcom has proven to be a key player in the industry. The merger could challenge Maxis’s position as the current leader.