DNB to deploy scam message detection for enhanced protection in Malaysia

• Identifies and locates fake transmitters used to send fraudulent messages at no extra cost to customers
• Reduces fraudulent messages and safeguards user privacy to protect from rising number of scams

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), Malaysia’s first 5G wholesale network provider, has introduced a capability within its 5G network management systems to detect illegal transmitters used to disseminate scam messages to mobile users.

Announced on 3 March at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Ericsson says this marks the world’s first trial of a Radio Access Network (RAN) and network management enhancement designed to detect false base stations within a commercial 5G network.

Deployed across DNB’s national 5G network and powered by Ericsson’s network software together with the Ericsson Security Manager (ESM) cybersecurity platform, this capability supports the Malaysian government’s call for the telecommunications industry to take decisive action against the growing threat of scams.

According to Ericsson, while it has over 20 customers using its ESM, DNB is the first wholesale network to do so.

According to the GSMA ASEAN Consumer Scam Report 2025, 45% of consumers across the ASEAN region reported having fallen victim to a scam, up from 31% the previous year. In Malaysia alone, authorities blocked 2.1 billion suspicious calls and unsolicited messages between 2022 and August 2025.

This service provides an additional layer of protection for Malaysians against scammers who deploy illegal transmitters to impersonate legitimate mobile base stations and send authentic‑looking messages containing malicious links aimed at stealing personal or financial information.

The technology delivers enhanced network visibility and advanced analytics to identify and neutralise suspicious activity without the need for manual tracing of transmission sources. 

This significantly strengthens Malaysia’s mobile network defences against scam‑related threats, said Ericsson.

Implemented on DNB’s secure national 5G infrastructure, the capability enables the wholesale network provider to swiftly safeguard user privacy, reinforce public confidence in mobile communications at no additional cost to network operators, and underscores DNB’s continued commitment to enhancing the quality, resilience, and security of Malaysia’s 5G network.

Azman Ismail, CEO of DNB said, “Our foremost priority has always been to deliver a secure and trusted national 5G network for the people of Malaysia. This innovation strengthens consumer protection by remotely detecting false base stations, helping to prevent scams and safeguard privacy, and reflects DNB’s ongoing commitment to continuously enhancing the quality, resilience and security of our network for customers, at no extra cost.”

David Hägerbro, Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, added, “Security has always been a key pillar in Malaysia’s 5G journey. This security enhancement with DNB shows how advanced network intelligence can protect subscribers without additional hardware or manual effort.”