Malaysian minister to meet telecommunication companies in the next two weeks on plan to double internet speeds at half the price
Communications and multimedia minister says his department has come up with ‘workable’ suggestions
By Chester Tay
Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo said he will be meeting local telecommunication companies in the next two weeks to discuss the Ministry’s call to double the internet speed in the country at half the price.
Gobind was asked whether halving the internet subscription prices would negatively affect the telco industry, and he said the Ministry’s heads of department have come up with proposals which he thinks are “workable”.
“We are looking at two aspects, [the] first is [to] double the speed, so we are looking at whether we can do that as soon as possible. The other is halving the cost, it may have an impact [on telcos’ financials], but we have certain plans in mind, there are certain ways and means by which we can sit and negotiate, even press for a structure by which prices can be reduced,” he said.
“We are still working on this, I have held meetings with relevant departments, they have shown me their proposals and I think they are workable. I will meet with telcos perhaps next week or the following week to discuss the way forward,” he said.
Yesterday, rating agency Moody’s lowered Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) baseline credit assessment to baa1 from a3.
