00:00U Mobile Sindram Berhad chairman Vincent Tan has trained his guns on the Muhyiddin Yassin
00:07government for insisting on a single 5G network while defending the telco's selection to implement
00:14the second network.
00:16Tan said mobile network operators were previously ready to roll out 5G at their own expense,
00:22but the Perikatan Nasional-led government insisted on a single network, implemented
00:27and monopolized by Digital Nasional Berhad using taxpayers' funds.
00:33He highlighted that DMB has spent RM4 billion so far, with RM12.5 billion more planned,
00:39risking a total of RM16.5 billion in taxpayers' money.
00:44Tan said the monopolistic single network model was against global best practices and had
00:50failed in other countries, adding that having two networks provided competition which would
00:55lead to improvements on both sides.
00:58The Berjaya Corp founder also lauded the unity government's courage in breaking up DMB's
01:03monopoly and reiterated that U Mobile's rollout of the second network will not involve public
01:09funds.
01:11In defending U Mobile's selection, Tan said the telco has 9 million subscribers and extensive
01:16coverage, saying that it is on par with major players like Cellcom Digi and Maxis.
01:23Tan also urged against irresponsible comments against Yang Libertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim,
01:28who has held a stake in U Mobile since 2015.
