The Government has announced the implementation of the National Digital Network Plan or JENDELA under the Twelfth Malaysian Plan (2021 – 2025) to enhance digital connectivity and the quality of experience for communications network across the country.
Pursuant to that, 3G network in Malaysia will be phased out by the end of 2021. The implementation, namely the 3G Network Sunset, aims to improve existing 4G network and to ensure the foundation for 5G network.
As such, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has instructed to stop the issuance of approval and renewal of 3G-only device and 4G-capable mobile phones without Voice over LTE (VoLTE) starting from 1 January 2021:
Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
For new issuance and renewal of Compliance Approval & Special Approval
For registration of IMEI number and product serial number under Self-labelling Program (SLP)
Certificate of Approval (CoA)(Import Permit for Malaysian Royal Customs (JKDM) clearance purpose)
Description and examples of affected devices are as follows:
| Device | Description and Example |
| 3G-only devices
|
Any type of devices that utilize 3G (IMT-2000) technology only for example 3G mobile phone, 3G vehicle tracker, 3G smart meter etc.
|
| 4G-capable mobile phones without VoLTE
|
Any mobile phones that utilize 4G (LTE) technology but does not support VoLTE*.
|
*VoLTE – Feature that enables voice calls over 4G network.
Whilst for Certificate Holders of 4G-capable mobile phones, SIRIM will provide a form for you to declare if a certain model supports VoLTE or not. If the model supports VoLTE, its compliance to IR.92 shall be proven for the certificate to remain valid while for models without VoLTE, the Certificate Holders will no longer able to renew affected certificates and do importation starting 1 January 2021.
To verify 4G-capable mobile phone that supports VoLTE, Certificate Holder shall make a declaration through provided form and SIRIM QAS International will verify its compliance through submission of VoLTE test report in according to IR.92, GSM Association’s document for IMS Profile for Voice and SMS.
Upon completion of the evaluation, SIRIM QAS International will update the specific Certificate of Conformity (CoC). With this, Certificate Holder will be able to proceed with Self-Labelling Program and importation of devices.
However, for Certificate Holders that are unable to make declaration and provide evidence of compliance, their certificates shall be invalid, and importation is prohibited.