Settle Asia

Malaysia internet guide

Verified 2026-05-12

Mobile network operators

Malaysia has four main mobile operators following the CelcomDigi merger:

  • CelcomDigi: formed by the merger of Celcom and Digi in 2023. Largest operator by subscribers. Best nationwide coverage including rural and East Malaysia [1].
  • Maxis (Hotlink): second-largest, strong urban 4G/5G, good data speeds [2]. Hotlink is the prepaid brand.
  • U Mobile: third operator, aggressive data pricing. Growing coverage in urban areas [3].
  • Yes (YTL): fourth operator, 5G-focused. Limited 4G coverage but competitive 5G plans in KL and major cities.

SIM cards for foreigners

  • Tourist SIM (prepaid): available at KLIA and other international airports. 7-30 days unlimited data for 30-80 MYR. Passport required.
  • Standard prepaid SIM: available at operator stores, convenience stores (7-Eleven, KK Mart), and mobile phone shops. Passport required; all SIMs must be registered under MCMC regulation. Data packages from 25 MYR/month for 10 GB; 45 MYR/month for 50 GB.
  • Postpaid SIM: passport + long-stay visa (MM2H or Employment Pass) + proof of address. Monthly plans from 35-150 MYR for 30-100 GB.
  • eSIM: supported by CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, and Yes. Easy setup for prepaid and postpaid.
  • Number portability: available (MNP). Switch operators while keeping your number.

Broadband internet

  • TM Unifi: the dominant fixed broadband provider, owned by Telekom Malaysia (TM). Fibre 100 Mbps-1 Gbps for 79-299 MYR/month. Widest coverage including outside major cities [4].
  • TIME Fibre: the premium option in coverage areas (KL, Penang, Johor Bahru, some of Selangor). 300 Mbps-1 Gbps for 99-199 MYR/month. Faster and more reliable than Unifi where available. Low latency (good for gaming and video calls) [5].
  • Maxis Fibre: fibre using TM's infrastructure. 100 Mbps-800 Mbps for 89-199 MYR/month. Bundled with Maxis mobile for a discount.
  • CelcomDigi Fibre: similar, using TM's infrastructure. 50-500 Mbps for 79-169 MYR/month.

Installation: 1-3 working days for fibre (areas with existing termination). New developments may need 2-4 weeks. Installation is free with a 12- or 24-month contract.

Coverage

  • 4G/LTE: excellent coverage across Peninsular Malaysia, including rural areas and highways. Good in Sabah and Sarawak cities, patchy in interior East Malaysia.
  • 5G: Malaysia has the Dual Network Model (DNB wholesale + second entity). 5G coverage is widespread in KL, Penang, Johor Bahru, and major towns as of 2026. CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, and Yes all offer 5G.
  • Speed test averages (2026): mobile download 30-80 Mbps (4G), 100-500 Mbps (5G). Fibre: 200-900 Mbps depending on plan and provider.
  • International bandwidth: Malaysia has excellent submarine cable connectivity. Low latency to Singapore (5-10 ms) and the rest of SE Asia.

Cost comparison

  • Prepaid mobile: 25-60 MYR/month for 10-60 GB. Very competitive market with frequent promotions.
  • Postpaid mobile: 35-150 MYR/month including voice minutes. Family plans available (4 lines from 100 MYR).
  • Broadband: 79-299 MYR/month for 100 Mbps-1 Gbps. TIME is fastest but limited coverage.
  • Coffee shop / mall WiFi: free in most shopping centres and cafes. Speeds 5-20 Mbps.

Practical tips

  • Unlimited plans: "unlimited" prepaid data plans are common but throttle after a daily cap (1-3 GB then reduced to 1-2 Mbps).
  • Top-up: prepaid refills via Touch 'n Go eWallet, GrabPay, or at 7-Eleven. Many operators offer auto-renewal from a credit-card-linked account.
  • VPN: Malaysia does not block general internet content. Some sites are occasionally blocked (illegal streaming, gambling). VPNs are legal and widely used by expats for home-country content.
  • Dual SIM: standard. Popular combo: Maxis/Hotlink for voice + U Mobile for data.
  • Phone locking: phones sold on postpaid contracts by Maxis and CelcomDigi may be locked to the operator for the contract duration. Unlocked phones are widely available.

Emergency connectivity

  • Public WiFi: available at all major shopping centres, airports (KLIA, LCCT, Penang, Kota Kinabalu), and many MRT/LRT stations. Free but requires registration.
  • Free WiFi at MCMC hotspots: the government provides free WiFi in selected public spaces (libraries, community centres) in less-connected areas.
  • WiFi calling: supported by all four major operators. Useful for maintaining connectivity in buildings with weak cellular signal.

This page is indicative. Confirm current packages directly with the operator.

Sources

  1. CelcomDigi
  2. Maxis (Hotlink)
  3. U Mobile
  4. TM Unifi (Telekom Malaysia)
  5. TIME dotCom