INTERNET package prices are expected to drop in September when the Mandatory Standard on Access Pricing (MSAP) is adopted, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Speaking at the monthly Communications and Digital Ministry assembly in Putrajaya today, he said MSAP will reduce wholesale internet package prices.

“God willing, by September, internet prices will be cheaper … if it is already cheap, it will be even cheaper,” he said.

On July 11, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said an MSAP-based price cut for fixed broadband services can only happen after an access agreement is signed by service providers.

MCMC said most access providers have published or will publish their Reference Access Offer.

The government launched the Fixed Broadband Unity Package in February to aid the B40 group, veterans, people with disabilities and senior citizens. This package comes with a two-year subscription at RM69 per month and provides speeds of up to 30Mbps with unlimited data.

Fahmi said the “where there is road, there will be internet” policy will be introduced to ensure people have wider internet access.

He said this policy will kick off in areas with road access.

“We must work faster. The reality is we can talk and pride ourselves on the availability of 5G, but people still very much want basic 4G access wherever they are,” he said, adding that internet access is an important basic need like water and electricity.

Fahmi praised several telecommunication companies for signing the 5G access agreement and introducing the Rahmah Package to slash internet prices.

On July 21, Fahmi said CelcomDigi, Maxis, Telekom Malaysia, U-Mobile and YTL Communications would finalise their shareholding processes in Digital Nasional Bhd. – Bernama, July 31, 2023.