Wednesday September 5, 2012
Cheaper broadband service
By LOSHANA K SHAGAR
loshana@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians in five states seeking cheap broadband service can get it for as low as RM20 per month, thanks to the new 1Malaysia Broadband Affordable packages.
They will be offered by all Malaysian telecommunication companies for those in Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu by Malaysia Day on Sept 16.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the packages were offered to the five states as their state broadband penetration rate was lower than the national rate.
“We need to improve penetration rates in Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu which stand at only 40% to 50% compared with the national rate of 64%,” he said after launching the service at the Sultan Abdul Samad complex here yesterday.
The wireless package costs RM20 to RM25 a month for 512kbps minimum broadband speed with 1GB capacity, while the fixed package costs RM38 a month for 384kbps minimum broadband speed and unlimited capacity.
Other packages for the public offered by the same telcos cost an average of RM130 monthly.
Dr Rais added that eligible members of the public could subscribe to the service by buying a starter SIM pack from any service provider which carried the package’s exclusive logo.
“The ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will have periodical meetings with the telco companies to track the package’s success, and with good response we might introduce it in other states,” he said.
Celcom Axiata chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly, who represented all telco companies under the project, said public feedback on the packages would be gathered by each telco company through customer care lines.
“Providing an affordable broadband package for the underserved market is laudable, and in line with the 1Malaysia spirit. We will introduce the starter packs within a few days,” he added.
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