[UPDATE: 5:40 PM, 19 Dec 2023]
According to its FAQ page, Maxis seems to have quietly updated its 5G access pass policy for 4G-only Hotlink postpaid and prepaid plans. While it was previously only free for the first month, users can now renew the pass for free every month until further notice under a “limited time promotion”, but it’s unclear whether or not this policy will be implemented permanently.
[Original: 11:16 AM, 19 Dec 2023]
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has issued a stern warning to local telcos who have been charging customers an extra fee for 5G access. According to Fahmi, the government will consider taking action against telecommunications companies which take part in this practice, something that he has been discouraging for months.
The minister stated that he has made it clear to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) that telcos should not impose an additional charge for 5G access. “It’s essential to note that the entire infrastructure cost, up to the point of signing the share subscription agreement (SSA), was funded by the public’s money. Therefore, there should not be any extra fees. If they continue to impose such charges, we will have to consider taking action,” he said.
At this point, all the major telcos have launched new plans which already include 5G access but at higher prices. However, most still charge an additional fee for customers to access the faster network if they are subscribed to older or cheaper plans. As Fahmi previously pointed out (or rather, the minister’s wife did), when the country was transitioning from 3G to 4G, customers did not have to pay extra.
The communications minister has been sporadically giving the public updates on the government’s ongoing discussions with telcos to abolish this extra charge. The CEO of YTL Communications, Wing K. Lee, has spoken out against this practice as every Malaysian should “be able to afford 5G”.
Both Maxis and CelcomDigi still charge an additional RM5-RM10 for 5G access for customers using their cheaper postpaid and prepaid plans. Meanwhile, CelcomDigi’s subsidiary, Yoodo, charges an additional RM1-RM5 for a 5G Pass.
