Malaysia offers some of the lowest mobile internet rates globally, according to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said the country’s cost per gigabyte is among the cheapest worldwide and continues to improve as operators streamline their offerings.
Speaking at a reception with the Malaysian diaspora at Rumah Malaysia in Azerbaijan on 16 November, Fahmi noted that Malaysia is “one of the 10 countries where the cost per gigabyte is about two cents,” placing it in a highly competitive bracket internationally. He said this level of affordability aligns with the government’s push to ensure that connectivity remains accessible to all segments of society.
Fahmi also pointed to Malaysia’s rapid 5G rollout as a major achievement. He said the country now enjoys the fastest 5G network speeds in Southeast Asia and ranks second in the Asia-Pacific region, trailing only South Korea. He added that such progress reflects the government’s “exceptionally rapid” deployment pace over the past two years.
For context, the minister’s reference is based on Opensignal’s Asia Pacific Mobile Network Experience benchmark report published in September 2024. The report lists Malaysia as having the fastest 5G upload and download speeds in Southeast Asia, though it trails Singapore in availability and coverage experience. Opensignal has not yet released its 2025 findings, so current standings may differ.
Fahmi also attributed part of this momentum to improved cooperation within the telecommunications sector. According to him, Malaysia previously rarely saw all major telcos sit together to reach consensus on key issues, but that dynamic has shifted in recent years. He said this newfound alignment has helped accelerate infrastructure rollout and support more cohesive connectivity policies nationwide.
(Source: Bernama)
