Malaysia’s Dual 5G Networks Offer Manufacturers Redundancy

Malaysia operates two separate 5G networks: Digital Nasional Berhad operates the first on Ericsson equipment, while U Mobile operates the second on Huawei and ZTE technology.

That structure gives Malaysian factories two technical routes, according to Lorela Chia, founding president of the Malaysia Association of Sustainable Supply Chain and Innovation (Massci).

For manufacturers, the arrangement provides potential redundancy and procurement choice. Its practical value extends beyond expanded coverage because production systems often mix legacy machinery, newer automation, software and industrial platforms.

What does dual 5G change for manufacturers?

Chia said factories rarely run on a uniform system, combining legacy machinery, newer automation, different cloud platforms and equipment sourced from multiple vendors.

Some technologies may perform better on one network than the other, although the assessment offered no comparative throughput, coverage or subscriber figures to quantify that difference.

Having two networks therefore gives manufacturers more ways to connect the systems already in use, without standardizing every machine and cloud platform on one network.

The alternative becomes useful when companies change suppliers, upgrade parts of their operations or respond to a disruption. Manufacturers can select the network that best supports planned technology instead of rebuilding operations around a single network.

This flexibility helps firms integrate, upgrade and avoid unnecessary technology lock-in. It gives them another route when a particular vendor, software environment, data system or industrial platform is not the best fit.

Massci founding president Lorela Chia said: “Redundancy (or having two networks) helps a supply chain absorb disruption. Optionality determines how quickly the supply chain can reconfigure.”

How does redundancy help smaller suppliers?

For smaller suppliers, network flexibility matters because they may not be in a position to swap existing equipment merely to fit a different technology setup. Technology changes should not force them to write off working assets or restart operations from scratch.

That makes redundancy commercially useful when a supplier changes, an equipment upgrade proceeds or a disruption affects operations. A second route can shorten reconfiguration and preserve continuity in the production base.

Optionality matters because manufacturers can rebuild around different technologies without discarding a functioning setup. In practice, that option determines how quickly the chain can respond when conditions change.

Malaysia’s dual-network model consequently offers value beyond expanded coverage. Coverage supplies the platform, while optionality gives industry more ways to solve actual production problems, Chia said.

What should the next rollout prioritize?

Chia said the next phase of Malaysia’s 5G rollout should prioritize reliability, interoperability and cybersecurity while enabling integration among public 5G, private networks, fibre connectivity and edge computing.

The most consistent demand from industry, she said, is for reliable, secure connectivity that gives manufacturers better visibility and control over their operations. The requirement extends across the production environment rather than only the network connection.

In practice, factories want to connect machines, move production data reliably, monitor and diagnose equipment remotely, and link factory-floor machines with office IT systems.

Machine vision and cybersecurity management across the full system are also practical requirements. These use cases determine whether advanced connectivity delivers uptime, visibility and control within mixed production architectures.

For industrial buyers, the relevant question is whether connectivity improves the whole operating chain. That means supporting current equipment, newer automation and different cloud platforms at the same time.

What does industry actually buy?

Chia said: “Industry does not buy connectivity for connectivity’s sake. It buys uptime, visibility, control and the ability to make better decisions faster.”

Demand will be strongest where advanced connectivity produces a clear operational or commercial return, she said.

Her assessment also points to broader supply-chain value: connected firms can remain visible, credible and connected within their wider supply chains.

For operators and equipment vendors, that requires dependable integration with installed machinery, office IT and mixed cloud platforms, rather than treating coverage as the final objective.

As the next phase of Malaysia’s 5G rollout advances, reliability, interoperability and cybersecurity will determine whether two separate networks become a practical resilience layer for industry.