The Malaysian mobile connectivity market is thriving with approximately 43.3 million active cellular mobile connections, a figure that represents a remarkable 121% of the country’s total population. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) play a crucial role in this bustling market by offering unique services, unlocking fresh demographics, and ultimately widening the scope of mobile connectivity throughout the country.
The Malaysian MVNO market demonstrated significant growth in 2025, reaching a value of USD 0.8 billion, and it is projected to hit USD 1.06 billion by 2030. This estimate is based on a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.75% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2030.
The recent shift towards a dual-wholesale 5G model has helped fuel this growth by eliminating previous pricing ambiguities that hindered the growth of virtual operators. Strategies such as implementing cloud-native OSS/BSS stacks, using eSIM-only distribution, and employing satellite-terrestrial convergence are being utilized by operators to penetrate new markets and reduce operational costs.
As digitalization increases in the commercial sector, the average revenue per user in the business-to-business (B2B) segment has grown. On the consumer front, the proliferation of ultra-low-cost prepaid plans has led to a spike in subscriptions.
Government programs like JENDELA bolster the infrastructure expansion and confirm the Malaysian MVNO market’s ability to sustain mid-single-digit compound growth throughout the decade.
In terms of deployment models, cloud technology contributed to 70.51% of the revenue in 2024 and is predicted to register a CAGR of 10.14% until 2030. On the operations front, reseller and other light MVNO formats held a 62.33% share in 2024. However, full MVNO structures are tipped to expand at a CAGR of 19.19% until 2030.
MVNOs offer mobile services to customers by leasing network capacity from an existing Mobile Network Operator (MNO), rather than owning its own infrastructure. This business model has several benefits for the Malaysian market:
MVNOs enable new service providers to break into the market, fostering competition among established MNOs to innovate and cater to niche markets. As a result, consumers benefit from increased options.
As 4G connectivity improves and 5G becomes more widespread, MNOs with surplus network capacity can partner with MVNOs to utilize this excess capacity, thereby offsetting some of the costs associated with building and maintaining their networks.
In August 2025, China Mobile International Limited (CMI) partnered with Maxis to launch CMLink, CMI’s MVNO, in Malaysia. This partnership allowed CMI to offer services such as the “one card, multiple numbers” feature and data sharing between China and Malaysia, catering to students and professionals who frequently travel between the two countries.
In October 2025, U Mobile entered a five-year wholesale access agreement with a new MVNO, Eastel, enabling Eastel to use U Mobile’s 4G and 5G networks for data, calls, SMS, roaming, and number portability.
The rise of MVNOs in Malaysia is shaping the wider connectivity ecosystem. By facilitating the entry of new and specialized brands into the market, MVNOs can reach demographics that are often underrepresented.
Increased competition in the market benefits consumers by offering them more choices and prompting MNOs to provide better prices, unique bundles, and superior customer service.
For MNOs, collaborating with MVNOs helps maximize returns on their network investments.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission supports network sharing, encouraging the sharing of infrastructure. Under this model, MVNOs can add value by introducing new services to lower-income or hard-to-reach groups using the same networks.
Looking ahead, the industry needs to ensure wider wholesale access, fair pricing, consistent network experience, sustainable differentiation, focus on underserved regions and regulatory support for MVNOs to thrive in Malaysia.
What is the projected growth for the Malaysian MVNO market by 2030?
The Malaysian MVNO market is expected to reach USD 1.06 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.75% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
How are MVNOs contributing to the growth of the mobile connectivity market in Malaysia?
MVNOs are contributing to the growth of Malaysia’s mobile connectivity market by unlocking new customer segments, introducing unique propositions, and facilitating broader mobile connectivity across the country.
What are the key areas of focus for the Malaysian MVNO industry to reach its full potential?
For MVNOs to reach their full potential in Malaysia, the industry needs to focus on wider wholesale access, fair pricing, consistent network experience, sustainable differentiation, targeting underserved regions, and gaining regulatory support.
