Malaysian operator U Mobile forged its first 5G and 4G wholesale access agreement, sealing a five-year deal with Eastel, which aims to launch MVNO services in the first quarter of 2026.

U Mobile deputy CEO Kenneth Chang stated the agreement “marks the start of more 5G wholesale agreements to come”, with the provider expected to achieve 80 per cent coverage of populated areas by the second half of 2026.

Eastel is owned by Anchor Communications, a local communications provider.

Anchor Communications executive director Aaron Lee noted the partnership is a significant milestone as “we prepare to launch a new kind of MVNO”. He added it aims to support niche and customisable data-intensive applications for the community.

U Mobile, the third-largest mobile operator by connections in Malaysia, launched the country’s second 5G wholesale network under the Ultra 5G brand in August, with the service first available at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and on a bridge in Penang.

It was awarded the wholesale 5G contract by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in November 2024, after the government moved away from a single wholesale network strategy.