‘Don’t charge extra for 5G’

No to additional charges: Fahmi speaking at the launch event in Petaling Jaya at Berjaya Times Square hotel in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Action may be taken against telecommunications service providers for charging customers an additional fee for access to the 5G network, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.He added that the infrastructure cost for the network’s development before the Share Subscription Agreement (SSA) was funded by the public.

The SSA signing on Dec 1 saw five telcos allocated 70% equity in Digital Nasional Bhd (14% each), with each injecting RM233mil towards the development of the new network.

“Therefore, there should not be any extra fees. If they continue to impose such charges, we will have to consider taking action,” Bernama quoted Fahmi as saying at the launch event for satellite television service OK Vision yesterday.

He added that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is aware that telcos should not put such additional charges in place.

Fahmi also said CelcomDigi had got rid of such fees in its new package revision following his recent discussions with the telco’s chief executive officer.

“In its new packages, it has eliminated the additional fees. This is what CelcomDigi conveyed to me,” he said.

In November, Fahmi, then helming the Communications and Digital Ministry, was reported to have said the 5G network coverage in Malaysia had reached 73% of populated areas.

Based on feedback from Digital Nasional Bhd, the government was on the right track of achieving the 80% coverage target by the end of the year, he had said as well.