THE prices of broadband services are expected to drop by year-end.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said prices will be lowered by at least 25%, following the implementation of the Mandatory Standard Access Pricing (MSAP), enforced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on June 8.

“The relevant parties are in commercial discussions to finalise the wholesale prices,” he told reporters at the ministry in Putrajaya today.

He said the process is scheduled to conclude by next month or August, after which lower-priced broadband packages are expected to be rolled out.

He said MCMC had conducted a year-long review of MSAP last year, and the revised prices were supposed to have come into effect on January 1.

“However the revised prices were not implemented as Telekom Malaysia had appealed to MCMC to reconsider some of the pricing components.

“The decision to revise the prices for broadband services was then put on hold, pending the consideration of the communications and multimedia minister.”

Gobind said the revised prices must be implemented and enforced.

“I have also announced that the government will consider recognising access to the internet as a basic human right in Malaysia, even to the extent, if practicable, of being a constitutional right.

“This is in recognition of the fact that broadband services are critical for the transformation of our nation into a digital economy, and to ensure that all Malaysians have access to information.”

On broadband speeds, he said he aims for them to be on a par with those in neighbouring countries, but “it should not stop there”.

“We should be a country that inspires others to increase their broadband speeds.” – June 20, 2018.