U Mobile Sdn. Bhd. (223969-U) is a
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
n
mobile telecommunications service provider and was founded in 1998 as
MiTV
Ansat Broadcast Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as U Television, with MiTV being an abbreviation of its former name, Malaysian Interactive Television) is Malaysia's third pay television operator. It was launched on 5 September 2005, after having obtai ...
Networks. U Mobile is a wholly owned
subsidiary
A subsidiary, subsidiary company, or daughter company is a company (law), company completely or partially owned or controlled by another company, called the parent company or holding company, which has legal and financial control over the subsidia ...
of
Ansat Broadcast Sdn. Bhd., which was formerly known as U Television.
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
Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile phone users to retain a mobile telephone number when changing the mobile network operator.
Overview
Mobile number portability (MNP) allows people to keep their phone numbers when switching to a ne ...
mandated by the Malaysian government this does not apply to subscribers who switched from their old mobile service provider over to U Mobile.
As of January 2023, U Mobile has 8.5 million subscribers. U mobile subscribers has cross the 9 million mark by end of 2023.
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 120 GB of data from 60 GB of data, while U Postpaid 68 and 98 are having 500 GB and 1 TB 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 15 GB roaming data and calls, which can be used in over 63 countries.
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 20 GB of all-usage data, and comes with multiple add-ons, including video, music, chat and
Waze
Waze Mobile Ltd, (; ) doing business as Waze (), formerly FreeMap Israel, is a subsidiary company of Google that provides satellite navigation software on smartphones and other computers that support the Global Positioning System (GPS). In ad ...
for unlimited uses. P99 and P139 both come with unlimited high-speed data with a total of 30 GB and 50 GB hotspot data separately. Three plans are having unlimited calls and 3 GB roaming data, which can be used in over 12 Asian countries, except for P79 having 1 GB roaming data. P139 users also gotten a free upgrade on 11 Sep 2022 to access to 5G data for free.
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 5 GB hotspot. GX50 has a speed cap of 5 Mbps, while GX68 has no speed cap, but none of them can connect to 5G network.
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 30 GB, while U35 and U40 have a FUP of 100 GB, data usage after FUP limits will be reduced to 512 kbps. U25 has a data speed of 3 Mbps, and U35 and U40 have a data speed of 6 Mbps. U25 has no hotspot, U35 has a 3 GB of hotspot and U40 has a 3 GB 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.
Giler Unlimited Prepaid (GX)
GX Prepaid is U Mobile's old prepaid plan, with four types: GX12, GX30, GX38 and GX43. GX12 is on a weekly-basis, with unlimited internet and calls. GX30, GX38 and GX43 are monthly plans, with 6 Mbps and 12 Mbps unlimited data and 6 GB hotspot, the only difference is GX38 and GX43 has unlimited calls.
Networks
U Mobile operate
4G LTE
In telecommunications, long-term evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless broadband communication for cellular mobile devices and data terminals. It is considered to be a "transitional" 4G technology, and is therefore also referred to as 3 ...
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
Maxis is an American video game developer and a Division (business), division of Electronic Arts (EA). The studio was founded in 1987 by Will Wright (game designer), Will Wright and Jeff Braun, and acquired by Electronic Arts in 1997. Maxis is ...
.
U mobile 2g domestic roaming is currently running on Celcom network since 2019.
3G RAN share was previously in collaboration with
Maxis Communications
Maxis Berhad (Trade name, doing business as Maxis) is a communications service provider in Malaysia. It is one of the oldest and largest telecommunications companies in the country. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it provides a varie ...
since October 2011 but ended on 27 October 2018, due to U Mobile being awarded additional spectrum of 2x15MHz of 1800 MHz bands and 2x5MHz of 900 MHz bands in 2016.
5G Networks
U Mobile users can now access to
DNB's 5G network with selected prepaid and postpaid plans. 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.
On 2 November 2024, U Mobile announced that they have been given the green light by the
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (Abbreviation: MCMC; or SKMM) is a regulatory body whose key role is the regulation of the communications and multimedia industry based on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commi ...
to deploy the second 5G network in Malaysia.
Corporate history
In April 2007, Ansat Broadcast 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.
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.
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
High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two mobile protocols—High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA)—that extends and improves the performance of existing 3G mobile telecommunic ...
-driven mobile network. The following month, it rolled out its first mobile service, the postpaid U38 plan. 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.
In November 2012, U Mobile activated 3G
RAN Sharing with
Maxis
Maxis is an American video game developer and a Division (business), division of Electronic Arts (EA). The studio was founded in 1987 by Will Wright (game designer), Will Wright and Jeff Braun, and acquired by Electronic Arts in 1997. Maxis is ...
and transitioned its
2G network provider from
Celcom
Celcom Axiata Berhad (doing business as Celcom) was the oldest mobile telecommunications provider in Malaysia. Celcom was a member of the Axiata group of companies. Celcom was merged with Digi to form CelcomDigi on 1 December 2022.
Being on ...
to
Maxis
Maxis is an American video game developer and a Division (business), division of Electronic Arts (EA). The studio was founded in 1987 by Will Wright (game designer), Will Wright and Jeff Braun, and acquired by Electronic Arts in 1997. Maxis is ...
.
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.
On 17 December 2013, U Mobile launched its
LTE
LTE may refer to:
Science and technology
* LTE (telecommunication) (Long-Term Evolution), a mobile telephony standard
** LTE Advanced, an enhancement
** LTE Advanced Pro, a further enhancement
* Compaq LTE, a line of laptop computers
* Leukotrie ...
network on the 2600 MHz band that covers the
Klang Valley
Klang Valley () is an urban agglomeration in Malaysia that is centered in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, and including their adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor. It is the urban area of the much larger Ku ...
. U Mobile has currently about 2 million subscribers at the end of 2014.
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
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.
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.
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.
On 26 May 2016, U Mobile become the first carrier in
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
to support
Wi-Fi calling, initially only supporting
iPhone
The iPhone is a line of smartphones developed and marketed by Apple that run iOS, the company's own mobile operating system. The first-generation iPhone was announced by then–Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, at ...
owners owning
iPhone 5c
The iPhone 5c is a smartphone that was developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is part of the sixth generation of the iPhone. The device was unveiled on September 10, 2013, and released on September 20, 2013, along with its higher-end counte ...
or later running
iOS
Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...
9.3 and above.
Wi-Fi calling for
Android users are only supported on selected devices.
In August 2016, U Mobile launched its first
4G LTE Advanced
LTE Advanced, also named or recognized as LTE+, LTE-A or 4G+, is a 4G mobile Cellular network, cellular communication standard developed by 3GPP as a major enhancement of the LTE (telecommunication), Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard.
Three tec ...
network at
Kota Belud
Kota Belud () is the capital of the Kota Belud District in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 8,392 in 2010. It is roughly at the midpoint of the federal highway connecting the state capital, ...
,
Sabah
Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
.
On 28 June 2017, U Mobile is terminating its 3G network sharing and alliance agreement with
Maxis Bhd which was signed in 2011.
Maxis
Maxis is an American video game developer and a Division (business), division of Electronic Arts (EA). The studio was founded in 1987 by Will Wright (game designer), Will Wright and Jeff Braun, and acquired by Electronic Arts in 1997. Maxis is ...
said on Wednesday the termination would take place in stages over 18 months and the completion date is on 27 December 2018.
Stakeholders
As of 5 December 2024, based on the information from
Companies Commission of Malaysia
The Companies Commission of Malaysia (, abbreviated SSM) is a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament that regulates corporate and business affairs in Malaysia. The SSM was formed in 2002 under the ''Companies Commission of Malaysia Act ...
, the major shareholder of U Mobile includes Straits Mobile Investments Pte. Ltd. (48.25%), followed by
DYMM Sultan Ibrahim (22.30%),
Magnum Berhad (7.83%), Singer (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (6.09%), Ansat Broadcast Sdn. Bhd. (5.59%), Tan Sri Koon Poh Keong (2.35%) and remaining shareholders (7.65%).
Partners
U Mobile's partners include:
*
Atos Origin
Atos SE is a European multinational information technology (IT) service and consulting company with headquarters in Bezons suburb of Paris, France, and offices worldwide. It specialises in hi-tech transactional services, unified communicatio ...
: Integrator of the BSCS iX Release 2 Billing System.
*
Ericsson
(), commonly known as Ericsson (), is a Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Ericsson has been a major contributor to the development of the telecommunications industry and is one ...
:
High-Speed Packet Access
High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two mobile protocols—High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA)—that extends and improves the performance of existing 3G mobile telecommunic ...
(HSPA) solutions and management provider.
*
Huawei
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei" sometimes stylized as "HUAWEI"; ; zh, c=华为, p= ) is a Chinese multinational corporationtechnology company in Longgang, Shenzhen, Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong. Its main product lines include teleco ...
: Telecommunication equipment provider, from access layers to core transmissions.
*
LHS The initials LHS are used for:
Schools Australia
* Leumeah High School, New South Wales
* Lyneham High School, Australian Capital Territory
* Lurnea High School, New South Wales
United Kingdom
* Larbert High School, Stenhousemuir, Scotland
* Lith ...
: Supplier of the BSCS iX Release 2 Billing System.
*
Nokia Siemens Networks
Nokia Networks (formerly Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN)) is a Finnish multinational corporation, multinational data networking and telecommunications equipment company headquartered in Espoo, Finland, and who ...
: Implementation, integration, and application development of DVB-H services, including the maintenance of MiTV's infrastructure on a turnkey basis.
*
Rohde & Schwarz Malaysia: Supplier of low, medium and high powered digital television transmitters for the rollout implementation and coverage expansion of U Mobile's Mobile LiveTV.
*
Telekom Malaysia
Telekom Malaysia Berhad or simply TM is a Malaysian telecommunications company that was founded in 1984. Beginning as the national telecommunications company for fixed line, radio, and television broadcasting services, it has evolved to become ...
: Provisioning of backhaul connectivity services through TM Next-Gen Backhaul (NGBH) services.
*
ZTE
ZTE Corporation is a Chinese partially state-owned technology company that specializes in telecommunication. Founded in 1985, ZTE is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges.
ZTE's core business is wireless, exchange, opti ...
: Telecommunication equipment provider.
*
Whale Cloud: Cloud BSS solution Provider.
References
{{Telecommunications in Malaysia
1998 establishments in Malaysia
Mobile phone companies of Malaysia
Internet service providers of Malaysia
Companies based in Kuala Lumpur
Telecommunications companies established in 1998
Malaysian brands
Privately held companies of Malaysia