MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE TO REDUCE MOBILE ROAMING RATES

PUTRAJAYA, April 20 (Bernama) -- From May 1 this year, Malaysia and
Singapore mobile phone users will enjoy 20 per cent discount for voice calls and 30 per cent discount for SMS, when using the mobile roaming services.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said the reduction was a significant effort by Malaysia and Singapore as its marked the close cooperation between the two countries.

"It is also the first bilateral cooperation to reduce roaming charges within the Asean region and paves the way for other similar efforts among Asean countries," he said at the launch of the Reduction of Mobile Roaming Rates between Malaysia and Singapore.

Rais said, consumers would get the reduction when using the mobile roaming services provided by all mobile operators in both countries such as Celcom, Digi, M1, Maxis, SingTel, Star Hub and U-Mobile.

He added that both prepaid and postpaid subscribers would enjoy the
reduction.

The rate reduction he said, would be further increased to 30 per cent for voice calls and up to 50 per cent for SMS from May 1 next year.

Singapore Information, Communications and Arts Minister Lui Tuck Yew meanwhile, hoped to see regulators on both sides continue to identify new initiatives to enhance connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia.

"I applaud the commitment of our mobile operators to this endeavour which will help promote greater communication linkages between the two countries," he said.