KUALA LUMPUR (April 7): U Mobile Sdn Bhd, which is leading the rollout of Malaysia's second 5G network, is partnering with Southeast Asian cell tower company EdgePoint Infrastructure Sdn Bhd to accelerate the rollout of in-building 5G coverage throughout the country.

In a joint statement on Monday, U Mobile and EdgePoint said they have inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the collaboration, which will make EdgePoint one of U Mobile’s preferred infrastructure partners for 5G in-building coverage (IBC).

EdgePoint, founded in 2020, is backed by US-listed DigitalBridge Group Inc, a global digital infrastructure investment firm, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and International Finance Corporation. It has 15,800 towers spread out over Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

According to the statement, both U Mobile and EdgePoint will be working closely on 5G IBC deployment, and will be focusing on developing and deploying the most suitable solutions tailored to each site to enhance network performance and user experience.

"Both parties will collaborate to deliver a cost effective and rapid rollout. This collaboration aims to accelerate the rollout of 5G technology, ensuring seamless connectivity and coverage across key locations, while addressing the evolving needs of both consumers and businesses," the statement read.

U Mobile and EdgePoint will also be collaborating on solutions for connectivity enhancement and seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies and applications like Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart cities and autonomous systems. The companies will also identify opportunities for future expansion and innovation in 5G IBC solutions.

U Mobile has signed multiple MOUs with various companies to accelerate the rollout and deployment of Malaysia's second 5G network. Among them are telecommunications infrastructure providers such as EDOTCO Group Sdn Bhd, Bullish Aim Sdn Bhd, Naza Communications and OCK Group Bhd, as well as telecommunications provider Time dotCom Bhd (KL:TIMECOM),

The company is also collaborating with Chinese firms ZTE Corporation, Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and China Mobile International to fast-track 5G infrastructure development and innovation across the country.