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KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 13): U Mobile Sdn Bhd has signed its first 5G and 4G wholesale access agreement with a mobile virtual network operator Eastel slated for launch in 2026.

Under the five-year agreement, U Mobile will provide Eastel access to its 5G infrastructure and 4G network for data, voice, and SMS services, the telco said in a statement on Monday. The agreement also covers international direct dialling, roaming, and mobile number portability support.

“This latest partnership marks the start of more 5G wholesale agreements to come” as U Mobile expands its network to 80% coverage of populated areas by the second half of next year, said deputy chief executive officer Kenneth Chang.

A wholesale access agreement allows one operator to utilise another company’s network infrastructure to deliver its own mobile services. A mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, does not own its network such as cell towers and leases them from a traditional network company.

Eastel, a brand owned by Anchor Communications Sdn Bhd, is slated to launch its service in the first quarter of 2026 targeting mobile services and digital solutions aimed at specific market segments, particularly those aligned with Malaysia’s gig and creator economy.

Anchor Communications, incorporated in May 2024, is primarily involved in telecommunications reselling and network services. The company is 69%-owned by Anchor Consulting Sdn Bhd, 30% by Safinah Md Isa and 1% by Law Leck Song, according to a CTOS report.

Parent company Anchor Consulting, set up in February 2024, provides IT infrastructure hosting, data processing and telecommunications services. It is 50%-owned by Ong Kok Fwee, 22.5% by Lim Pui San, 22.5% by Regan Goh Jun Xi and 5% by Leyun Inc. Lim also serves as a director at Anchor Communications.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone as we prepare to launch a new kind of MVNO — one that empowers Malaysia’s gig and creator economy,” said Eastel executive director Aaron Lee.

Eastel is licensed both as an application service provider and a network service provider by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

Sources : The Edge Malaysia