Encouraging The Pop Program, Malaysia's Minister Of Communication Finds Fast Internet Facts That Can Actually Be Cheap

Archives. A number of children play computer at the Sungsang Village internet hall, South Sumatra, Sunday, July 28, 2013. (ANTARA PHOTO-FENY SELLY)

JAKARTA - Malaysian Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil urged providers or internet service providers to offer cheap packages at higher speed to people in neighboring countries.

Based on his observations, Fahmi said that finding the fact that the provider can actually offer the cheapest package of RM39 or around Rp. 141,000 per month for internet speeds of 100Mbps.

Previously, under the Pop program, I found service providers offering around RM49 for 100Mbps, with some offering up to RM39," he said during a press conference during the 'Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Communication attended by the Malaysian Armed Forces and MCMC, today, as quoted by Bernama.

"When we carry out through the National Digital Network Plan Project (JENDELA) under the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) or PoP through the Ministry of Communication, it is appropriate for service providers to offer cheaper prices to the public," said Fahmi.

"This is not just a commercial program but has a more strategic goal to not only bridge the gap physically so that regions can enjoy high-speed internet but also in terms of our economy," he continued.

The PoP Project in Malaysia aims to close the digital divide in rural areas by using schools as a center for providing broad band infrastructure with fiber optics, thus enabling schools, government buildings, and surrounding residential areas to have access to high-speed broadband services.