Maxis signs 5G network deal with Huawei Technologies

Maxis has selected Huawei Technologies for rolling out its 5G network in 2020 across Malaysia.
Maxis 5G network deal with HuaweiMaxis CEO Gokhan Ogut and Huawei Malaysia CEO Michael Yuan signed the 5G network deal.

Huawei will be supplying 4G / LTE and 5G radio equipment and services to Maxis, the second largest telecom operator in Malaysia.

In February, Maxis and Huawei signed an MoU to cooperate on 5G trials. Maxis commenced the first 5G live trials in the country, recording close to 3Gbps download speeds.

The Malaysian government has said it aims to offer 5G spectrum as soon as the first quarter of 2020.

Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo last week said Malaysia will start a nationwide demonstration of 5G projects this month, indicating the country was on track to become one of the first in Asia to launch the technology.

Huawei also has preliminary 5G agreements with Maxis rivals such as Axiata Group’s Celcom.

Huawei, the world’s largest telecoms equipment maker, was put on a U.S. blacklist in May after Washington said its equipment could be used for spying.

The U.S. government has been lobbying other countries to turn against Huawei. Malaysia, however, has said it is not concerned about the spying allegations and is focusing instead on the relative affordability of Huawei products.