Malaysia mobile revenue may hit $6.3b in 2030 as data offsets voice decline

Voice revenue is projected to contract 1% annually.

Malaysia mobile services revenue could rise to $6.3b in 2030 from $5.4b in 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4%, supported by the mobile data services segment, according to GlobalData.

Its Malaysia Mobile Communications Forecast (Q1 2026) said mobile data revenue will offset declines in mobile voice revenue.

Average monthly mobile data usage in Malaysia will increase to 62 GB in 2030 from 27 GB in 2025, according to Sarwat Zeeshan, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData.

She added that this will be “driven by growing consumption of online video and social media content over smartphones, supported by the increasing availability and adoption of 5G service plans.”

Mobile voice revenue will fall at a 1% CAGR over the period due to a shift towards over-the-top communication platforms and lower mobile voice average revenue per user.

5G subscriptions surpassed 4G subscriptions in 2025, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission awarding U Mobile a licence for a second 5G wholesale network alongside Digital Nasional Berhad.

U Mobile selected Huawei and ZTE as technology partners in April 2025 for its 5G and 5G-Advanced rollout, including network slicing and indoor coverage improvements.

Machine-to-machine and Internet of Things subscriptions will expand at a CAGR of 11.8% over the period.

“CelcomDigi led the mobile services market in Malaysia in terms of mobile subscriptions in 2025, followed by Maxis,” said Zeeshan.

She added that CelcomDigi will retain its lead until 2030, supported by its 5G network expansion and modernisation, alongside “its wide range of prepaid and postpaid plans with unlimited calls and data allowances.”