After mulling for a long time, TM has finally announced changes in its broadband package offering for its customers, this is after newly appointed Communication Minister from the changed government, YB Gobind Deo brandishing the ‘rotan’ insisting fees to come down drastically.
Having since come in power on May 9, Pakatan Harapan has been relentless in executing its manifesto’s which includes the reduction of broadband rates for fellow Malaysians. Wasting no time, the minister instructed MCMC and TM to immediately look into the matter, resulting in TM announcing the new plans. But the question is why only now? Being the incumbent fixed broadband supplier funded by the government for most of the rollout, it has taken TM a frustrating period to bring about increasing speeds and reducing its price structure. A quick check across the border in Thailand, AIS offers its customers 100MBps for 790 Baht which equates to RM96, substantially lower than what we get over here.
So, how does the revised offerings from TM appear for starters entry-level unifi package at 30Mbps for targeted B40 segment is promised a package price point lower than RM100 but no indication how much with registration for pre-booking starting 15 July. For current customers, unifi ‘turbo’ plans will offer double the current broadband speed with gradually upgrade on speed at no extra cost starting 15 August extended to new customers subscribing to existing unifi plans before 31 December on onward. Streamyx users also known as pre-unifi will be given ‘special package’ again with no details. TM has also indicated the upgrades are subject to technical availability in terms of area and last mile dependency.
By far still way below our regional operators, the improvements are welcomed but the entry rates should be below the RM50 threshold. The B40 segment are on a meagre household income, the last thing on their mind is to have to pay for broadband but this would also mean depriving their children access to the wonderful world the internet has to offer. It’s time people realise not having internet connection is like not having light, living in the dark is not going to uplift any nation.
The ball has started rolling and the minister is serious about his agency getting their acts together, lets hope the momentum picks up and we can finally call our broadband plans truly affordable.
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