Protemp Group of Companies

CYBERJAYA: Telecommunication companies can impose minimal charges to encourage people to subscribe to broadband facilities and achieve the 50 per cent broadband penetration rate by December. 

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that as of July 7, the penetration rate was 37.7 per cent with 2.3 million household subscribers.TM provides the lowest charge of RM38. 

“We hope telecommunication companies can provide affordable rates,” he said after launching the national broadband awareness programme here yesterday.

Rais said out of 16 million Internet users in the country, 2.3 million house holds were broad band subscribers, 7.5 million 3G subscribers and one million dial-up subscribers.

We are confident that the target is achievable but this can be achieved faster if 3G and dial-up users convert their subscriptions to broadband.”

He called for improvements in the provision of broadband facilities in rural areas.

“I was told recently that there is a cost-effective technology where access points can be installed in public telephone booths to cover a 2km radius.”

On the broadband tour programme, Rais said it would cover 500 locations nationwide.

It will focus on states that had low broadband penetration rate such as Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak. — Bernama