See also: Maxis, CelcomDigi, Yes, Unifi
Malaysian communications provider
U Mobile Sdn Bhd (223969-U) is a Malaysian mobile telecommunications service provider and was founded in 1998 as MiTV Networks Sdn Bhd. U Mobile is a wholly owned subsidiary of U Television Sdn Bhd, which was formerly known as U Telecom Media Holdings Sdn Bhd and MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd.
The company utilises the 018 and 011 prefix allocated to the organisation by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), although with the implementation of mobile number portability mandated by the Malaysian government this does not apply to subscribers who switched from their old mobile service provider over to U Mobile.[1]
As of January 2023, U Mobile has 8.5 million subscribers.
Products and services
Postpaid
U Postpaid
U Postpaid is a 5G plan that was introduced to replace the Unlimited Hero Postpaid. There are three types: U Postpaid 38, U Postpaid 68 and U Postpaid 98. U Postpaid 38 has been upgraded to 60GB of data from 30GB of data, while U Postpaid 68 and 98 are having 100GB and 1TB of data separately. All U Postpaid plans come with unlimited calls and Ultra Hotspot 5G. Besides, U Postpaid 68 and 98 are equipped with free 15GB roaming data and calls, which can be used in over 63 countries.[2][3][4]
Unlimited Hero Postpaid
Unlimited Hero Postpaid is an old postpaid plan from U Mobile and there are three plans: P79, P99 and P139. P79 has a 20GB of all-usage data, and comes with multiple add-ons, including video, music, chat and Waze for unlimited uses. P99 and P139 both come with unlimited high-speed data with a total of 30GB and 50GB hotspot data separately. Three plans are having unlimited calls and 3GB roaming data, which can be used in over 12 Asian countries, except for P79 having 1GB roaming data. P139 users also gotten a free upgrade on 11 Sep 2022 to access to 5G data for free.[5][6][7]
Giler Unlimited Postpaid (GX)
GX Postpaid is a cheaper postpaid plan with two types: GX50 and GX68. Both plans come with unlimited data and calls, with a 5GB hotspot. GX50 has a speed cap of 5Mbps, while GX68 has no speed cap, but none of them can connect to 5G network.[8][9]
Prepaid
U Prepaid
U Prepaid are alike to U Postpaid, since both of them are 5G plans. U Prepaid has three plans: Prepaid U25, Prepaid U35 and Prepaid U40. All three U Prepaid plans come with unlimited data and calls, with FUP. U25 has a FUP of 30GB, while U35 and U40 have a FUP of 100GB, data usage after FUP limits will be reduced to 512kbps. U25 has a data speed of 3Mbps, and U35 and U40 have a data speed of 6Mbps. U25 has no hotspot, U35 has a 3GB of hotspot and U40 has a 3GB of hotspot with a hotspot limit sharing from the data. U25 users can access to 5G network an hour per day, and U35 and U40 users can access to 5G network every weekend.[10][11]
Giler Unlimited Prepaid (GX)
GX Prepaid is U Mobile's old prepaid plan, with three types: GX12, GX30 and GX38. GX12 is on a weekly-basis, with unlimited internet and calls. GX30 and GX38 are monthly plans, with 6Mbps unlimited data and 6GB hotspot, the only difference is GX38 has unlimited calls. [12][13]
Networks
U Mobile operate 4G LTE and 4G LTE-A networks.
As of 2015, U Mobile claimed to have 95% population coverage from a combination of over 10,000 sites of 3G and 4G LTE own-built, 3G RAN share and 2G Domestic Roaming with Maxis.[14] U mobile 2g domestic roaming is currently running on Celcom network since 2019.
3G RAN share is collaborated with Maxis Communications since October 2011 but ended on 27 October 2018 due to U Mobile awarded two additional spectrum of 2x15MHz of 1800 MHz bands and 2x5MHz of 900 MHz bands that were awarded by the government on 2016.[14]
Frequencies used on U Mobile Network in Malaysia
| Band
|
Frequency |
Frequency Width |
Protocol |
Notes
|
| 8
|
900 MHz (900~905, 945~950) |
2 * 5 MHz |
LTE |
(expiry June 2032)
|
| 3
|
1800 MHz (1730~1745, 1825~1840) |
2 * 15 MHz |
LTE / LTE-A
|
(expiry June 2032)
|
| 1
|
2100 MHz (1920~1935, 2110~2125)
(1915~1920)
|
2 * 15 MHz
5 MHz
|
LTE |
(expiry April 2034)
|
| 7
|
2600 MHz (2520~2530, 2640~2650) |
2 * 10 MHz |
LTE / LTE-A
|
|
5G Networks
U Mobile users can now access to DNB's 5G network with selected prepaid and postpaid plans.[15] On 22 May 2023, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil revealed that Malaysia’s 5G coverage has reached almost 60% of populated areas in the country, standing at 59.5% as of the end of April. This means that the government’s goal of reaching 80% coverage in populated areas by end 2023 is closer to being attained.[16]
Corporate history
In April 2007, U Television Sdn Bhd signed the country's first nationwide domestic roaming memorandum of understanding, which led to an agreement with the mobile network operator Celcom Axiata Bhd allowing U Mobile's customers nationwide coverage while U Mobile rolled out its own high-speed mobile 3G service nationwide.[17] The agreement was completed in June 2007.
In December 2007, the 3G communications operators KT Freetel and NTT DoCoMo jointly invested US$200 million (est. RM669 million) for a total of 33% stake in U Mobile.[18]
In March 2008, U Mobile launched its first publicly available product called "Surf with U", a data-only plan for mobile users provided using U Mobile's HSDPA-driven mobile network. The following month, it rolled out its first mobile service, the postpaid U38 plan.[19] In July, U Mobile launched two new postpaid services, U68 and U98, and the 018 Prepaid service.
In 2009, KT Freetel, one of U Mobile's foreign investors, sold its 16.5% stake (62.6 million shares) to U Mobile's major shareholder.[20]
In November 2012, U Mobile activated 3G RAN Sharing with Maxis and transitioned its 2G network provider from Celcom to Maxis.[21][22][23][24][25]
On 31 August 2013, U Mobile announced that En. Jaffa Sany Bin Md Ariffin has been terminated as the chief executive officer and ceased to be an employee of U Mobile due to disciplinary action. Accordingly, he is not authorised to act for and on behalf of the company in respect of any matter with immediate effect. He was appointed as chief executive officer of U Mobile on 1 June 2012.[26]
On 17 December 2013, U Mobile launched its LTE network on the 2600 MHz band that covers the Klang Valley. U Mobile has currently about 2 million subscribers at the end of 2014.[27]
On 1 April 2014, U Mobile announced the appointment of Wong Heang Tuck as chief executive officer (CEO) effective 1 April 2014, Jasmine Lee as chief marketing officer (CMO), and Alex Tan as chief sales officer (CSO) effective 1 January 2014[28]
On 21 December 2015, U Mobile announced that D.Y.M.M. Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj (“DYMM Sultan Ibrahim”) has acquired a further 5% stake in the company to increase his stake to 15%. DYMM Sultan Ibrahim acquired his initial 10% stake in U Mobile in 2014.[29][30]
In February 2016, U Mobile confirms that it has been allocated with 15 years spectrum assignment of 2x5MHz of 900 MHz and 2x15MHz of 1800 MHz for full nationwide implementation starting 1 January 2017.[31][32]
In March 2016, U Mobile announced that it has partnered with Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) to be the Official Co-Sponsor of the Superbest Power Piala FA and Liga Premier Malaysia for three years, starting from the 2016 season. U Mobile will be the Exclusive Telecommunications Partner for the two premier football competitions. The partnership with FMLLP will give U Mobile marketing, promotion and engagement opportunities around the two competitions, in-stadium branding, corporate hospitality and use of the club and player image rights for advertising purposes.[33][34]
On 26 May 2016, U Mobile become the first carrier in Malaysia to support Wi-Fi calling, initially only supporting iPhone owners owning iPhone 5c or later running iOS 9.3 and above. Wi-Fi calling for Android users are only supported on selected devices.[35]
In August 2016, U Mobile launched its first 4G LTE Advanced network at Kota Belud, Sabah.[36]
On 28 June 2017, U Mobile is terminating its 3G network sharing and alliance agreement with Maxis Bhd which was signed in 2011. Maxis said on Wednesday the termination would take place in stages over 18 months and the completion date is on 27 December 2018.[37]
2G network RAN with Maxis is still in operation but since 2020 the maxis 2G operation is transitioned from maxis to celcom network provider and now 2G service already run on celcom
Stakeholders
The major shareholder of U Mobile includes Straits Mobile Investments Pte. Ltd (49%), followed by U Telemedia Sdn Bhd (21.46%), DYMM Sultan Ibrahim (15%),[30] Magnum Berhad (6.33%), Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun (6.2%), and Berjaya Infrastructure Sdn Bhd (2.01%).
