Celcom targets 120% growth for mobile broadband users in 2009

Celcom, Malaysia’s second largest wireless operator by subscribers, has said it aims to expand its mobile broadband subscriber base by 120% in 2009 following the launch of a new pre-paid tariff; the new service will cost MYR25 (USD6.84) per month. According to news agency Bernama, Celcom claimed to have approximately 270,000 mobile broadband customers at the end of February 2009, having registered a 300% year-on-year growth in 2008. The operator also said it had mobile broadband coverage of almost 70% of the populated areas of the country. In a further bid to solidify its position in the mobile broadband sector the operator is also planning to introduce a new deal costing MYR159 per month which offers a Hewlett-Packard notebook computer, in addition to the Celcom broadband monthly data plan and USB broadband dongle.