TL;DR/At a Glance
Malaysia has officially entered the Dual-5G era, pitting the established national coverage of Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) against U Mobile’s aggressive new ULTRA5G network. While DNB remains the “Quantity King” with an 82% national footprint, U Mobile is the new “Quality King” for urbanites, offering a native 5.5G (5G-Advanced) core with 10Gbps peaks and superior indoor penetration. With Telekom Malaysia (TM) officially switching to U Mobile as its primary wholesale partner in 2026, the shift toward the second network is no longer just an option—it’s the new industry benchmark for performance.
The 10Gbps Era: What is 5G-Advanced?
Just as we started getting comfortable with 5G, thanks to the single wholesale provider – DNB, the goalposts moved. As of April 2026, the game has changed. The launch of the nation’s second 5G network, led by U Mobile under the ULTRA5G banner, has introduced something we’ve been waiting for: true 5G-Advanced.
Technically known as 3GPP Release 18, 5G-Advanced (commonly branded as 5.5G in Malaysia) is the bridge to 6G. While original 5G focused on 1Gbps, 5.5G-Advanced targets 10Gbps downlinks. More importantly, it introduces Passive IoT (battery-less sensors) and Deterministic Latency, dropping your ping to a near-instant 5ms.
The Heavyweights: DNB vs. U Mobile ULTRA5G
The competition is no longer just about who has the most towers; it’s about architecture.
- DNB (The 1st Network): Powered by Ericsson, DNB is the “Quantity King.” It currently covers over 82% of populated areas (CoPA). If you are traveling through rural Perak or the highlands of Sabah, DNB’s established footprint is what keeps you connected. However, as the network matures and gets more crowded, we are seeing a performance plateau in urban centers.
- U Mobile (The 2nd Network): Branded as ULTRA5G, this network is built on a native 5G Standalone (SA) core in partnership with Huawei and ZTE. It is 5.5G-ready from day one. U Mobile isn’t trying to cover every jungle track yet; they are targeting deep indoor coverage. They’ve already achieved No. 1 status for 5G Availability in recent 2025/2026 speed tests, specifically excelling in malls, office towers, and high-density urban hubs. Let’s not forget, they were named fastest 5G network in Malaysia by Ookla in Q3 and Q4 2025.
The Fallback: What Happens in the “Dead Zones”?
One of the biggest fears for U Mobile switchers is losing signal in rural areas. In 2026, the safety net is built-in. Through a Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) agreement, U Mobile customers have a seamless fallback:
- Primary: Native ULTRA5G (5.5G) where available (1Gbps+).
- Secondary Fallback: DNB 5G Roaming. If the 2nd network isn’t there, your phone transparently jumps onto the DNB 5G grid.
- Tertiary Fallback: U Mobile’s native 4G/4G+ network.
The Industry Shift: The TM Factor
The biggest signal of 2026 was Telekom Malaysia (TM) terminating its access agreement with DNB to sign a 3-year wholesale deal with U Mobile (DNB subsequently rejected TM’s early termination notice, but that’s a whole other story). When the nation’s fiber giant bets its mobile future (Unifi Mobile) on the 2nd network, it’s a clear sign that the technical architecture of ULTRA5G is the superior platform for the next five years of AI and IoT.
Watch First, Buy Smart: The Verdict
- Stick with DNB-based telcos (CelcomDigi, Maxis, Yes, UNI5G) if you are a frequent interstate traveler who needs the widest possible 5G footprint today.
- Switch to U Mobile ULTRA5G if you are an urban professional, gamer, or creator who spends most of your time in high-rise buildings or shopping malls. Their 5.5G indoor penetration is currently the best in Malaysia.
Are you staying with a DNB-powered telco or making the jump to ULTRA5G? Let us know in the comments below!
