CelcomDigi Bhd, Maxis Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd have each injected an additional RM202 million shareholder advance into Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) to support its operations, including spectrum acquisition. YTL Communications is a 60%-owned unit of YTL Power International Bhd.
According to bourse filings by CelcomDigi and Maxis on Wednesday, the latest injection was made at the request of the state-owned 5G wholesale network operator.
With this latest injection, each of the three telcos’ total shareholder advances and additional shareholder advances to DNB now stands at RM551.9 million, representing a 22.94% interest based on DNB’s issued share capital and shareholder advances.
Ministry of Finance Inc (MoF Inc), which currently holds RM500.1 million of DNB’s issued share capital and has provided RM250.2 million in shareholder advances, has a 31.18% interest.
MoF Inc was excluded from participating in this round after exercising its put option on Dec 1, 2025, with CelcomDigi, Maxis and YTL having fully paid the option price.
According to CelcomDigi’s filing, the additional funds will be used to pay upfront spectrum fees as part of the spectrum acceptance, as well as to meet working capital requirements.
The additional shareholder advance carries no interest and is not repayable on demand. It will only be repaid when agreed by DNB and subject to compliance with applicable covenants, CelcomDigi said.
The advance may also be treated as prepayments under the access agreement between a CelcomDigi-related corporation and DNB, subject to the terms of the shareholders’ agreement.
DNB, a special-purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Finance, was initially established to deploy 5G infrastructure and serve as the sole provider of wholesale 5G services to telcos.
However, the government later opted for a dual wholesale network model, under which U Mobile was appointed in November 2024 to deploy the second 5G network.
Shares in CelcomDigi rose four sen or 1.4% to RM2.39 on Wednesday, giving it a market capitalisation of RM35.1 billion. Maxis shares fell four sen or 1.1% to RM3.50, valuing the group at RM27.4 billion.
