Why did Malaysia and Singapore fall behind neighbours in download speeds?

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Delayed 5G Adoption Impacts Download Speeds for Malaysia and Singapore

Malaysia and Singapore have experienced a decline in their global mobile download speed rankings due to the delayed adoption of 5G mobile broadband technology. This delay has allowed neighbouring countries, which implemented 5G earlier, to surpass them in average download speeds. As of late 2021, Malaysia's average download speed was recorded at 13.5 megabits per second (Mbps), falling below the speeds now enjoyed by users in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Neighbouring Nations Surpass Malaysia and Singapore

Countries that were technologically behind Malaysia and Singapore in 2019 have since overtaken them in cellular download speed rankings. This shift is attributed to the earlier rollout and implementation of 5G networks in these neighbouring nations. While Malaysia and Singapore experienced a lag in their 5G deployment, other markets were able to leverage the technology for significant improvements in mobile network experience.
Singapore's Ranking Decline

Singapore, which held a strong fifth position among 100 markets for average download speed in early 2019, saw its ranking slip to ninth by the end of 2021. This drop occurred despite Singapore's focus on advanced mobile technologies, indicating that even a relatively strong initial position could be eroded by slower adoption of the latest standards compared to competitors.
Malaysia's Stagnant Download Speeds

Malaysia experienced a more pronounced fall in download speed rankings, dropping from 61st place in early 2019 to a joint 70th by late 2021. The introduction of 5G services in Malaysia only began towards the end of 2021 as part of the Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) initiative. Consequently, the download experience for Malaysian mobile users has seen only marginal improvement over the past two-and-a-half years, contrasting sharply with the substantial gains made by countries that embraced 5G earlier.

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Why did Malaysia and Singapore fall behind neighbours in download speeds?

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