en.Wedoany.com Reported - Malaysian mobile network operator U Mobile officially announced on May 11, 2026, that it has added lifestyle digital brand VIBE Mobile to its list of strategic Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) partners. According to U Mobile's announcement, this partnership will authorize VIBE Mobile to access its next-generation 4G and 5G network infrastructure, covering data services, domestic and international communications, and roaming capabilities, while VIBE Mobile will focus on service design, brand operations, and customer experience.
VIBE Mobile is owned by Malaysian supply chain and distribution company Elite Links (M) Sdn Bhd. It obtained its MVNO operating license from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in September 2025 and officially launched commercial services in April 2026. According to VIBE Mobile's operational data, as of May 2026, the brand has attracted approximately 50,000 users, covering Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysian regions such as Sabah and Sarawak. It currently offers four 30-day prepaid plan options with monthly fees ranging from RM17 to RM47, supporting the rollover of unused data to the following month and flexible termination with zero contract obligations.
U Mobile's inclusion of VIBE Mobile into its MVNO ecosystem marks a further expansion of its partner network following its first 5G and 4G wholesale access agreement signed with Eastel in October 2025. The earlier Eastel agreement is a five-year wholesale access arrangement; Eastel, a subsidiary of Anchor Communications, targets Malaysia's gig economy and creator community and is scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of 2026. According to U Mobile Deputy CEO Kenneth Chang during the previous signing, the network expansion target is to cover 80% of populated areas by the second half of 2026.
This move establishes VIBE Mobile as U Mobile's second MVNO partner brand, with both leveraging U Mobile's ULTRA5G Standalone network capabilities. U Mobile officially launched its ULTRA5G network in August 2025, and as of February 2026, coverage has been completed in cities such as Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Beaufort, and Kudat in Sabah, with indoor coverage sites entering key venues like Imago Mall and Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The company also committed to deploying over 600 indoor coverage sites by the second half of 2029 to support 5G Advanced scenarios and mobile AI applications.
The operational agreement specifies that VIBE Mobile will be fully responsible for service design, brand building, and customer engagement, while U Mobile will provide core mobile connectivity and fundamental network capabilities. VIBE Mobile CEO Joseph Lim stated that the brand is positioned as a digital lifestyle ecosystem platform that transcends basic communication, aiming to redefine how Malaysia's younger generation connects, consumes content, and expresses themselves digitally. Leveraging U Mobile's 5G capabilities, the brand hopes to build differentiated packages for digital-native user groups in streaming, gaming, and content creation.
Malaysia's MVNO market is undergoing transformation against the backdrop of accelerated 5G deployment. In recent years, new MVNO brands are no longer confined to low-price competition but are instead building service differentiation around dimensions such as gaming, streaming, creator ecosystems, fintech integration, and membership benefits. This collaboration continues U Mobile's strategy of positioning itself as a next-generation 5G network wholesaler, providing scalable infrastructure foundations for virtual operators lacking network-building capabilities. At the consumer level, this is expected to generate more mobile plans tailored to specific lifestyle needs.
According to data released by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in 2025, the overall scale of the MVNO segment in Malaysia's telecommunications market is approximately US$800 million, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of about 5.75% from 2025 to 2030. On the regulatory front, Malaysia has issued public consultation papers on an access list and mandatory access standards, intending to incorporate 4G network sharing into the regulatory framework, further reducing network construction and access costs for small and medium-sized operators, and driving the market's transition from "individual network competition" to "network sharing competition." U Mobile's MVNO expansion strategy aligns with these regulatory directions, and the cooperation model can directly adapt to wholesale operations following future standardization of network sharing pricing and access.
U Mobile stated that the company will continue to provide network capability support for different types of partners, promoting partner-driven innovation to accelerate the large-scale deployment of digital services in the Malaysian market. The company positions itself not only as a 5G network provider but also as an enabling platform extending the digital service ecosystem towards both consumer and enterprise ends.
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