KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Malaysians can expect a reduction in the retail prices of their fixed broadband after this September, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said today.
While the Mandatory Standard on Access Pricing (MSAP) was implemented on March 1, the commission said lower prices will only take effect once the access agreements among the telecommunication providers have concluded.
At present, it said most access providers have or are in the process of publishing their reference access offer (RAO).
“The negotiations of access agreements will commence based on published RAOs and are expected to be concluded by end of September.
“As such, price reduction of broadband services can be expected to take place thereafter,” MCMC said.
The MCMC statement was in response to yesterday’s report by technology portal SoyaCincau that questioned the government on the proposed price revision that was said to have taken effect on March 1.
The website noted that there have been no updates on any major price revision and there seems to be a lack of enforcement from MCMC four months on.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil was reported saying on March 2 that the implementation of the new MSAP, effective March 1, will see lower broadband service prices compared to the earlier MSAP.
In the meantime, MCMC pointed to the availability of the government’s Pakej Perpaduan Fixed Internet Broadband that was launched in early February.
It said the Pakej Perpaduan, that is offered at a lower price with up to 30Mbps speed, is aimed at helping B40 group, veterans, the disabled and the elderly.
“The package comes with a 24-month subscription contract and is priced at RM69 per month, provides Internet speeds up to 30Mbps with unlimited data, and has been made available since March 2023.
“The price of this package is 22 per cent cheaper than the existing prices for similar packages at the same speed which is RM89. Under this package, subscribers will enjoy RM480 savings throughout the contract period,” MCMC said.
It added that 6,066 users have since signed up for the package.
MCMC also said the PPR/ PA @MyKabel package is also available at RM69 a month with a contract of 24 months at a speed of 100Mbps with unlimited data.
It said the PPR/ PA @MyKabel package, introduced in April, is targeting residents living in the People’s Housing Projects (PPR) and B40 groups to aid their daily digital activities.