Celcom plans additional investment to boost coverage, improve network quality

Malaysian mobile network operator Celcom Axiata is reportedly planning to spend an extra MYR1 billion to MYR2 billion (USD232 million-USD465 million) over the next ten years, according to The Star Online. The investment will be directed towards cell sites and equipment that will help the cellco achieve its long-term plan for network quality and coverage. Further, Celcom said that the additional expenditure would help make up for the loss of 7MHz of 900MHz band spectrum and 5MHz of 1800MHz frequencies; as reported by CommsUpdate earlier this week, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) outlined plans to reallocate frequencies in the aforementioned bands among four telecoms operators by August this year. Such spending plans could change, however, depending on whether the company can secure other frequencies, with Celcom’s parent company Axiata noting in a filing regarding the matter: ‘Depending on the timing and the amount of LTE spectrum Celcom hopes to obtain in the future, especially in the 700MHz spectrum band, these estimates could be lower.’