Axiata Group Bhd, Maxis Bhd and Digi.Com Bhd said they have accepted offers from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for spectrum assignments across five years from July 1, 2022.
Digi.Com, through its subsidiary Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, and Maxis, through its relevant subsidiary, have accepted the offer for the 2x10MHz spectrum in the 2600MHz band, according to their company filings.
Meanwhile, Axiata said its unit Celcom Axiata Bhd was assigned the spectrum in 2530MHz-2540MHz, paired with 2650MHz to 2660MHz frequency bands.
The price component payment or upfront fee for each of the assigned spectrum was RM11.76 million, payable before Feb 14, with total annual fees for the five years fixed at RM20.76 million, payable before Dec 15, 2022, the companies said.
In December 2021, minister of communications and multimedia Tan Sri Annuar Musa issued a series of ministerial determinations on the spectrum assignments and fixed price for several frequency bands, namely 2575MHz-2615MHz, and the 2500MHz-2570MHz paired with 2620MHz-2690MHz.
The Dec 20, 2021 determination said the spectrum assignments shall be effective on a date to be decided by the commission subject to relevant requirements.
According to the Dec 9, 2021 determination, others with spectrum assignments aside from the three telcos include Telekom Malaysia Bhd unit Webe Digital Sdn Bhd (2575Mhz-2595MHz), and YTL Power International Bhd unit YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (2595MHz-2615MHz).
Also assigned were Altel Communications Sdn Bhd (2540MHz-2560MHz paired with 2660MHz-2680MHz), Redtone Engineering and Network Services Sdn Bhd (2500MHz-2510MHz paired with 2620MHz-2630MHz), and U Mobile Sdn Bhd (2520MHz-2530MHz paired with 2640MHz-2650MHz).
At the time, ministerial determinations were also issued on the reallocation of 2300MHz-2390MHz as well as 824MHz-834MHz paired with 869MHz-879MHz, also for a five-year period, with the assignments to be decided later.
Shares of Digi.Com rose seven sen or 1.72% to close at RM4.14, giving it a market capitalisation of RM32.19 billion.
Shares of Maxis rose seven sen or 1.61% to RM4.43, giving it a market capitalisation of RM34.67 billion.
Axiata shares rose four sen or 1.03%, valuing the group at RM36.06 billion.
Source: https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/axiata-maxis-digicom-secure-4g-spectrum-allocation-five-years