Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) has appointed Maxis Bhd as the provider of 4G and 5G mobile network infrastructure along the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) corridor, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced today.
Speaking at the launch of the ECRL project’s Golden Train and the presentation of appointment letters at KotaSAS Station, Fahmi said the collaboration would optimise infrastructure deployment while enabling telecommunications companies to concentrate on improving service quality and user experience.
He described the appointment as a key milestone in the government’s broader push to strengthen the nation’s digital ecosystem alongside major physical infrastructure projects.
“This collaboration marks another significant step in building Malaysia’s digital future, in tandem with high-impact developments such as the ECRL,” he said.
Also present at the event were Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook, Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Transport Ministry secretary-general Jana Santhiran Muniayan, and Pahang works, transport and health committee chairman Razali Kassim.
Fahmi said the Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), would implement a collaborative model involving the country’s five major mobile network operators, guided by infrastructure-sharing principles.
The initiative supports the government’s policy of ensuring connectivity wherever transport infrastructure exists, including roads, highways and strategic rail corridors such as the ECRL.
Under the plan, a multi-operator core network will be introduced and shared among service providers including CelcomDigi, Telekom Malaysia and YTL. Once completed, the integrated network infrastructure will enable Maxis, CelcomDigi, U Mobile, YTL and Telekom Malaysia to deliver 4G and 5G services to passengers along the ECRL route.
The approach is expected to enhance connectivity not only for rail users but also for communities along the corridor, covering urban centres, transit-oriented developments, as well as suburban and rural areas.
Fahmi added that all participating operators would be required to meet mandatory standards on quality of service when providing coverage along the ECRL line.
