Telekom Malaysia requests deregulation of fixed line tariffs, papers say

Fixed line incumbent Telekom Malaysia™ has requested that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) remove the current regulation of its wireline call prices and line rental tariffs, according to local press reports. TM is arguing that it must lower its long-distance call rates to compete with cheaper prices being offered by VoIP and mobile operators. Deregulation would also enable it to increase its local call tariffs to balance any cut in long-distance charges. ‘The whole fixed line business should be reviewed,’ TM CEO Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa told the Business Times. ‘The idea here is to deregulate the business and let the market forces dictate the rate that can be offered.’