Malaysia’s 5G network has grown significantly since its commercial rollout, reflecting widespread adoption and strong user growth. However, Ookla's latest analysis reported that Malaysia’s median 5G download speed had declined in late 2023 by the third quarter of 2025.
Strong Growth in 5G Adoption and Coverage but Mixed Speed Trends
According to the latest findings from Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence, Malaysia remains one of the region’s most active 5G markets, with nearly 80% of mobile internet speed tests conducted on 5G-capable devices by the third quarter of 2025. This high level of device readiness underscores how quickly Malaysians have embraced next-generation mobile technology.
The network’s footprint has also broadened extensively, making 5G accessible across a variety of urban and suburban areas. This expanded coverage has helped elevate overall user engagement and solidify 5G’s role as a mainstream connectivity platform rather than a niche, early-adopter service.
Real-World Speeds Moderate as Demand Grows
Despite the rapid uptake, median download and upload speeds for 5G in Malaysia have moderated compared with earlier stages of deployment. Ookla’s data revealed that Malaysia’s median 5G download speeds declined from approximately 451.79 Mbps in late 2023 to around 242.92 Mbps by Q3 2025. Upload speeds likewise experienced decreases over the same period.
This trend reflects growing demand on the network as more users transition to 5G and engage in data-intensive applications such as video streaming, cloud gaming, and real-time collaboration tools. The slowdown in measured speeds doesn’t signal regression; rather, it highlights the complex balance between user volume, coverage expansion, and capacity optimisation in a maturing 5G ecosystem.
MCMC Responds
Despite the drop in 5G download and upload speeds, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) argued that this result was to be expected due to the massive user adoption. MCMC also said the speed measurements should be looked at positively, instead of negatively, since there is a good growth over the years.
"While such observations provide useful reference points, MCMC emphasises that headline speed measurements must be viewed in the context of rapid network expansion and accelerated user adoption,” said MCMC.
Performance in Regional Context
Even with the observed moderation in speeds, Malaysia’s 5G performance continues to outpace several regional peers. In comparative terms, 5G speeds in Malaysia remain robust relative to countries such as Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines, though they now lag behind leaders like South Korea and Singapore.
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