Tunku Aminah Sultan Ibrahim has been appointed chairman of U Mobile, Malaysia's fourth-largest telecommunications operator, as the company accelerates deployment of the nation's second 5G network.
The appointment took effect March 13, with founder Vincent Tan stepping down from the chairman role to serve as board adviser. The transition coincides with Mawar Setia Sdn Bhd—an investment holding company founded by both Tan and Tunku Aminah—acquiring more than 50% ownership of U Mobile following a share purchase from Singapore Technologies Telemedia.
Tunku Aminah brings "extensive leadership and governance experience, having led private organisations across various industries" and served on multiple public and private company boards, according to U Mobile's announcement.
The timing aligns with critical infrastructure deadlines. U Mobile was selected in November 2024 to build Malaysia's second 5G network and launched services on January 26, 2026. Tan stated the boardroom changes reflect commitment to "building digital infrastructure that was reliable, scalable, and delivered on time."
The company is "ahead of deployment schedule" in meeting coverage expectations set for the second network, Tan said. Malaysia's dual 5G framework emerged after the government sold Digital Nasional Bhd shares to multiple operators, retaining 41.67% ownership while allowing commercial competition.
Ten countries, 700 million people, one region—and in the race for digital economy leadership across ASEAN, 5G infrastructure has become a key differentiator. Singapore achieved nationwide coverage in 2023, Thailand began commercial rollout in 2024, and Vietnam has targeted 2026 for major urban deployment.
For Malaysia, the dual-network approach aims to accelerate coverage while preventing monopoly control. U Mobile competes with the original Digital Nasional Bhd network, which counts Maxis, Celcom, and Digi among its shareholders.
