The Malaysian government recently announced the Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa initiative, aiming to address affordability concerns regarding mobile data plans for students. This program specifically targets students enrolled in public universities (IPTA) and public skills training institutes (ILKA).
Source: Fahmi Fadzil on X
Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa focuses on providing cost-effective prepaid mobile data plans. The program sets a maximum price of RM30 for these plans, making them significantly cheaper compared to standard options. This ensures students can stay connected without straining their budgets.
The program guarantees a minimum data allotment of 30GB, catering to online learning needs. Students can download study materials, participate in online lectures and tutorials, and stay connected with classmates and family throughout the semester. Some participating telecommunication companies (telcos) might even offer additional data within the same 180-day validity period.
Program Launch and Availability
The Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa initiative is scheduled to commence on August 16th, 2024. Students will have the option to choose from plans offered by various telcos including CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, Unifi Mobile, and Yes 5G.
While specific details regarding the registration process haven’t been released yet, it’s expected that subscriptions will be available through the respective telco websites or their physical stores. Students will likely need to provide valid student identification to verify their enrollment at an IPTA or ILKA institution.
Malaysia’s telecommunications landscape could be on the cusp of a major shakeup, with Maxis Bhd., one of the country’s leading mobile operators, reportedly considering a buyout of its rival, U Mobile Sdn Bhd. This potential merger, if successful, would mark the second significant consolidation within the industry following the recent Celcom-Digi merger announced in May 2024.
Strategic Move to Consolidate Two Rivals on the Same Page
News of the potential Maxis-U Mobile deal emerged in mid-July 2024. Sources close to the matter claim that Maxis has expressed interest in acquiring U Mobile, with talks currently in their early stages. This move comes at a time when Malaysia is actively accelerating its transition to 5G technology, and both companies are vying for a strategic advantage.
The potential Maxis-U Mobile merger mirrors the recent Celcom-Digi union, which seeks to create a dominant player in the 5G space. With the Malaysian government aiming to roll out nationwide 5G coverage by 2024, consolidation within the telecommunications sector appears to be a strategic move for companies to strengthen their infrastructure and investment capabilities. Notably, U Mobile has been at the forefront of 5G development, collaborating with EDOTCO, a state-owned tower company, to spearhead the deployment of the second 5G network in Malaysia.
While Maxis seems keen on acquiring U Mobile, the latter has reportedly rejected the initial buyout offer. U Mobile, currently the third-largest mobile operator in Malaysia with over 9 million subscribers, is said to be valuing itself at more than RM10 billion (approximately USD 2.3 billion). Interestingly, U Mobile has been contemplating an initial public offering (IPO) since 2021, suggesting an alternative path towards growth and expansion.
MCMC Ready to Oversee Merger
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has expressed its readiness to establish guidelines should Maxis and U Mobile decide to proceed with the merger. The regulator’s focus will likely be on ensuring healthy competition within the market and preventing the creation of a monopoly that could stifle innovation and ultimately harm consumers.
The potential benefits of a Maxis-U Mobile merger are multifaceted. It could lead to a more efficient allocation of resources, reduced network duplication, and potentially lower prices for consumers. However, concerns exist about the potential reduction in competition, which could lead to higher prices and a lack of choice for users. Additionally, job losses within both companies due to potential redundancies remain a key concern.
The potential Maxis-U Mobile merger is shrouded in uncertainty at this point. While Maxis has expressed interest, U Mobile appears hesitant. Both companies have their own strategic considerations, and the MCMC’s regulatory oversight further complicates the picture. However, one thing is clear: if successful, this merger would significantly redraw the Malaysian telecommunications landscape.
It remains to be seen whether the Maxis-U Mobile deal will materialize. However, this potential consolidation serves as a reminder of the ongoing transformation within Malaysia’s telecommunications sector. As the race for 5G dominance heats up, further consolidation and strategic realignments within the industry are not out of the question. Whether these developments benefit consumers or stifle competition depends on the regulatory framework and the companies’ commitment to providing high-quality services at affordable prices.
Maxis is stepping up its game in the broadband arena with the introduction of new Maxis Home Fibre and Maxis Business Fibre plans. The new plans offer improved speeds and value to its customers. Home Fibre customers can now enjoy lightning-fast speeds of up to 1 and 2Gbps, while Business Fibre subscribers can revel in speeds of up to 1Gbps.
New Maxis Home Fibre customers are in for a treat with promotional pricing during the first 24 months. This deal includes a cutting-edge WiFi 6-certified router, professional installation, and the convenience of Home Zerolution for seamless home device ownership. The Maxis Home Fibre 1Gbps plan also comes bundled with a complimentary Max WiFi subscription, ensuring wall-to-wall WiFi coverage throughout your home.
That’s not all – Maxis Home Fibre now boasts a brand-new 2 Gbps plan with true 2 Gbps speeds, ensuring that all your devices remain connected on this high-bandwidth network. This plan is the first 2Gbps plan in Malaysia to be complemented with a WiFi 6E router.
For businesses, Maxis Business Fibre is now available across the nation at speeds of up to 1Gbps. New Maxis Business Fibre customers will also get to enjoy promotional pricing for the initial 24 months.
What sets Maxis Business Fibre apart is its invaluable 4G wireless backup, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for businesses. The plans include a free next-generation WiFi 6-certified router and a voice line with unlimited domestic calls. Moreover, subscribers to plans with speeds of 300Mbps and above will receive a free Wi-Fi mesh system, guaranteeing broader coverage within business premises.
The details of the plans are as follows:
Maxis Home Fibre:
Rate Plan
New Price / Month (RM)
Promotional Monthly Rate & Offers (RM)*
2Gbps (NEW)
319
N/A
1Gbps (NEW)
249
Free Max WiFi subscription
500Mbps
159
149
300Mbps
139
129
100Mbps
99
89
*Promotional pricing offered to new subscribers, applicable to the first 24 months
Maxis Business Fibre:
Rate Plan
New Price / Month (RM)
Promotional Monthly Rate & Offers (RM)**
1Gbps (NEW)
299
N/A
500Mbps
219
199
300Mbps
179
139
100Mbps
119
99
**Promotional pricing offered to new subscribers until 30 November 2023, applicable to the first 24 months of contract
Maxis continues their endeavor to support education and its accessibility with its third edition of Maxis eKelas.
Launched in 2021, Maxis eKelas is the Malaysian communication giants flagship community project to enable quality digital education among students through signature campaigns and activities. The main aim is to provide quality education to students from Year 4 to Form 5 in rural communities. The educational material is presented in a fun and engaging way and in line with the Malaysian School Syllabus. One of these signature campaigns is Misi Jelajah Digital (MJD) annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) challenge, which focuses on enhancing their knowledge and skills in STEM subjects. Since its launch in 2001, MJD has already reached 2000 participating students nationwide, equipping them with digital skills.
A focus on key digital skills and sustainable development
Now in its third year, MJD 2023 will run from 16th August to 16th November 2023. The competition was launched at SJK Chung Hua No. 4 in Kuching, Sarawak and followed by two days of workshops. Around 580 students from 54 schools across Kuching joined in, learning about storyboarding, how to conceptualise ideas and present proposals. This year’s MJD challenge will help students develop key digital skills in programming, coding and design thinking. With the theme of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), students are challenged to create real-life solutions and produce their own animation works or games based on their categories.
Categories
Task
Upper Primary: Year 4-5
Create ONE digital animated VIDEO to educate your peers about one of the SDG goals.
Lower Secondary: Form 1-3
Build a 2-level (minimum) GAME that educates your peers about the SDG Goals.
Lower Secondary: Form 4-5
Build a 3-level(minimum) GAME that educates your peers about the SDG Goals.
The student categories of MJD 2023 by Maxis eKelas.
MJD 2023 is open to all Malaysian students from Year 4 to Form 5, encouraged to join in groups of 2 to 4 members. On top of attractive prizes, students will also receive co-curriculum marks or Pentaksiran Aktiviti Jasmani Sukan dan Kokurikulum (PAJSK) credits as further incentive to participate.
A wealth of resources on STEM and more
To help students during the competition period, there will be free online workshops on animation and game design. Moreover, eKelas students can access learning material on coding, storytelling and other related digital skills via the eKelas portal. With content focusing on Science, Mathematics, English, Bahasa Melayu and History, the learning material of eKelas portal is delivered through a combination of live tutorials, group learning, competitions and digital content. Apart from STEM, students can also participate in the HIP Storyfest annual competition.
Maxis subscribers rejoice! You can finally access 5G connectivity thanks to the new plans being rolled out today. The plans come after more than a year of Maxis holding out on signing the Access Agreement with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB). In fact, the plans are literally being rolled out the day after an EGM with shareholders yesterday.
The new plans come with even more data and at more affordable prices than the previous ONE plans. Users who opt for these plans can access data up to 30 times faster on DNB’s 5G network with perks like access to new devices through Maxis’s Zerolution plans.
The All New Maxis Postpaid with 5G
Maxis’s commercial offerings are getting a total revamp. Brand new plans starting at MYR75 will be available to customers. New sign-ups can only opt for these plans while older Maxis ONE users will be able to upgrade via the Maxis app.
The all-new Maxis Postpaid plans start at MYR79 a month for 80GB of data on both 4G and 5G with an additional 40GB exclusively for use on 5G. A step up will get you 100GB for MYR109 with 50GB of additional 5G data. MYR139 gets you 120GB with an additional 60GB of 5G data while MYR169 gets you 150GB of data with an additional 75GB of 5G data. Maxis’s postpaid offerings cap out at MYR199 for 200GB of data with a 100GB additional 5G data. All the new plans come with unlimited SMS and calls.
Supplementary Lines & Maxis Family Plan Users
Users who are on Maxis’s supplementary lines will automatically get 5G access when the principal line is upgraded to the new 5G plans.
However, if you’re on the family plan, it doesn’t look like Maxis is updating their plans for 5G just yet. Instead, you’ll need to activate your 5G pass which will set you back MYR10 a month. Activating the pass does not get you any additional 5G data quota. It simply allows you access to 5G connectivity provided you have a supported device.
This activation is also done on a per-line basis, so for the Family Plan for 4 which costs MYR299 for 4 lines, you will need to fork out an additional MYR40 for 5G access on all your lines. The only consolation is that your first month is free.
Maxis Business Postpaid
Maxis business postpaid customers will benefit from the same plans as the regular Postpaid plans. In addition, they will be getting additional productivity data of up to 100GB and access to digital marketing solutions in their company subscription plans. New business postpaid customers and customers who opt to upgrade to the 5G plans can take advantage of an MYR10 rebate for up to 12 months.
Hotlink Prepaid & Postpaid
Hotlink subscribers will be able to take advantage of a bevvy of new plans offered on both Hotlink Postpaid and Hotlink Prepaid. The plans not only come with perks like “roam like home” which gives you access to your home data quota in Thailand and Singapore and a MYR60 rebate spread across six months.
The new Hotlink Postpaid plans come with highspeed 5G internet access and unlimited calls and SMS. The new plans start at MYR30 for 2GB of internet and cap out at MYR70 for 70 GB. The highest tier – Hotlink Postpaid 70 – comes with an additional 35GB of 5G quota.
On the prepaid side of things, users can opt to choose from a wide selection of new 5G-enabled plans that come along with additional features like Hotspot connectivity, and cashback as part of the Malaysian Government’s Pakej Belia initiative. Plans start at MYR3 a day for 3GB of data. The monthly passes come in at MYR45 a month and MYR60 a month. the MYR45 pass comes with 50GB of data with a bonus 25GB of 5G data while the MYR60 pass comes with 70GB of data and a bonus 30GB of 5G data. The latter also comes with Roam from Home capabilities unlocking data connectivity in Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore with the same quota.
There are also monthly “Unlimited” plans available for Hotlink Prepaid users which offer speed-limited access to 5G. The MYR55 pass gives you 100GB of data after which your speed is capped at 12Mbps while the MYR45 gives you 80GB beyond which your speed is capped at 6Mbps.
Malaysia is finally looking to get its 5G act together after over 2 years in limbo. While the country started its 5G conversation early in 2019, political instability, the pandemic and multiple changes in the plans for 5G have seen the country without widespread 5G connectivity until now.
In 2021, Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) was established to be the single “special-purpose” vehicle for the country’s rollout of 5G under the purview of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Since then, DNB has been in a tumultuous state with telcos refusing terms and even members of the public and experts criticising DNB’s presence.
However, in late 2021, DNB did an initial launch of 5G with only two telcos – TM and YTL Communications (YES) onboard. Since then, little has changed with DNB continuing to set up 5G infrastructure while it struggled to reach a consensus even with the MoF’s invitation to telco to take up a stake in the vehicle. In early October 2022, an agreement was finally reached with two telcos – U Mobile and Maxis – abstaining from claiming a stake in DNB. DNB is now owned by MoF (35%), YTL Communications (20%), TM (20%), Celcom Axiata (12.5%) and Digi Telecommunications (12.5%). Celcom Axiata and Digi are in the midst of a merger following the agreement between parent companies Axiata and Telenor to merge operations. In light of this merger, the resulting company’s stake was limited to 25%. As of 31 October 2022, five of the six telcos in Malaysia have finally signed an access agreement with DNB for access to the 5G network.
With all the drama done with, Malaysia is finally getting widespread coverage starting with key areas in the country’s central region of Klang Valley. Aside from YES – which has already rolled out its 5G offerings – telcos are beginning to provide access to users starting on 1st November 2022. Digi and Maxis have yet to announce any offerings for 5G. We’ve summarised the usage and plans available in the table below for easy reference.
Telco
5G Rollout
Details
YTL Communications (YES)
Already available
5G is available on: 1. Infinte+ Postpaid plans 2. FT5G Unlimited Prepaid 3. Wireless Fibre 5G plans
TM
31 October 2022
TM Unifi Mobile users will be able to access the 5G network for free until 31 December 2022. After which it seems like they will need to register for the new Uni5G plans to access the 5G network. Prices for subscriptions start at MYR1.
Celcom Axiata
1 November 2022
5G access will be available to all Celcom subscribers according to their plans for free until December 2022. Plans included: 1. Celcom MEGA Lightning (80, 98, 128, ,158 and 188) 2. Celcom Xpax Postpaid (40 and 60) 3. Celcom Xpax Prepaid (35 and 45)
U Mobile
3 November 2022
U Mobile subscribers of their recently launched 5G Ready U Postpaid plans will be able to use the 5G network with compatible devices. Prepaid users on U25 and U35 plans will need to redeem a “Speed Booster” for free which entitles them to 1 hour of 5G connectivity a day with up to 30 hours a month.
Digi
TBA
TBA
Maxis
TBA
TBA
It’s worth noting that Maxis, one of the nation’s largest telcos, has yet to ratify the access agreement. The company has cited that its board is still accessing the requirements for the 5G Access Agreement. In its statement to the press, Maxis states, “Maxis is committed to playing an active role in bringing 5G to the nation in line with the Government’s digital ambitions, and to utilising Digital Nasional Berhad’s (DNB) network for 5G services. The Company looks forward to bringing the best of 5G services and solutions to its customers and is confident of launching 5G in the near future”. The company has also recently appointed a new CEO, Goh Seow Eng, who has served in Advanced Info Service (AIS) in Thailand. Goh will be taking the reigns from Gökhan Öğüt, who has been the CEO of Maxis for nearly 4 years.
So, it looks like Maxis and Digi customers can expect an announcement in the near future possibly with revamped plans.
[UPDATE] U Mobile has announced that they are also on the pre-order bandwagon. Pre-order of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will begin on the 16th of September 2022. More info on their website.
When Apple’s iPhone 14 was announced by Cupertino, its availability in Malaysia was confirmed to be 23rd September 2022. There were no mentions on its pre-orders during the launch though. Fret not though, Apple Malaysia has confirmed that the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will be available for pre-orders from the 16th of September onward. There is one small caveat in the pre-order though, the Apple iPhone 14 Plus will only ship out from the 7th of October 2022 onward.
Of course, you can buy your new iPhone from Apple directly via their website or any of the authorized retailers in Malaysia. Unfortunately, we do not have a proper Apple Store in Malaysia just yet. Alternatively, you can get your latest iPhone from the carriers, and three of Malaysia’s major carriers has also put up their pre-order teasers. Pre-orders with the carriers also start on Malaysia Day (16th of September 2022).
Obviously if you are getting your iPhone device directly with Apple, you are paying for the device in cash, or installments via your credit card. With the carriers, you would usually be required to sign up for their data plans. At this point though there are no information on what sort of plans you will have to sign up for to get your new iPhone. There is no solid indication of pricing from the carriers just yet.
Of course, there are going to be some check boxes you must tick if you want to order your device from the carriers. Their websites will also tell you to ensure that you have any of your outstanding bills cleared. You also want to make sure that you are not tied to any contracts before you pre-order your iPhone 14. Pre-orders from the carriers will be carried out virtually entirely, which also means you want to make sure that you have a stable internet collection. You also want to be on their postpaid plans to make sure that you can get your device with no issues during the pre-order period.
So far, only the three major carriers have announced their pre-orders for the new iPhone. The three major carriers, as mentioned earlier, are Maxis, Celcom, and Digi. While UMobile does have an iPhone specific plan, they have not made any announcements regarding the Apple iPhone 14 devices from their end just yet. We are guessing that they will announce their iPhone plans closer to the actual availability date on the 23rd of September 2022. For more information on the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, you can visit their website.
Maxis is one of the largest connectivity providers in Malaysia. The one mobile-centric company has expanded to include fibre and business solutions over the past few years. Back in 2021, the company introduced a new package for their services which bundled mobile and fibre connectivity for families. The offering brought 30Mbps fibre and mobile connectivity for up to four mobile lines for only MYR299. It was also the most affordable option for connectivity at launch.
The Maxis Family Plan just got a little bit more affordable thanks to two new plans which were silently introduced. The new plans complement their MYR299 plan with faster connectivity and more lines. The new Maxis Family Plan for 6 comes with 6 lines with unlimited data and with a 100Mbps fibre connection for MYR399. Still need more? The new Maxis Family Plan for 8 comes with 8 lines with unlimited data and 300Mbps fibre connection for MYR499. All plans comes with a zero downtime guarantee as Maxis uses its own 4G network as a fallback.
The New Maxis Family Plans (Source: Maxis Malaysia)
The website updates come as Maxis launches their new fibre campaign featuring a new, adorable green dinosaur mascot. Their new mascot unlocks the possibilities that come with connectivity at home. The green dino makes its adorable debut in a campaign video you can find on Maxis’s official YouTube Channel.
Aside from the new plans, Maxis offers fibre connectivity independently via its Maxis Fibre Broadband service. Plans for Maxis Broadband start at MYR89 for 30Mbps and caps out at 800Mbps for MYR499. Subscribers can also take advantage of Zerolution packages for new devices including Samsung OLED TVs and even a PlayStation 5 form as low as MYR1 a month.
The Apple iPhone 13 series was just launched about two weeks ago. The Apple iPhone 13 series is Cupertino’s latest and greatest pride. The new device features an all-new 5nm A15 Bionic System on a Chip (SoC). It is also Apple’s first iPhone to exclude the 64GB version and the iPhone 13 Pro series is the first smartphone in Apple’s line-up to also offer 1TB of storage.
Now you have the chance to be the first people in Malaysia to own Apple’s latest and greatest iPhone. Maxis and Celcom has opened their pre-order programmes for the Apple iPhone 13. There is no word on pre-orders from U Mobile and Digi just yet.
Source: Maxis
Source: Maxis
Source: Maxis
Source: Maxis
Source: Maxis
From Maxis, the iPhone 13 Mini will set you back from MYR 66 a month onward with a three-year commitment on Maxis Zerolution Postpaid 188 plan. The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, in this case, will set you back MYR 115 a month. Maxis’ pre-order will end on the 7th of October 2021 though and you can expect your devices to come from the 8th of October 2021 onward. If you do not want to be tied down to a contract with Maxis, you can buy the device from Maxis from as low as MYR 1,736, which will still be lower than retail anyway.
Source: Celcom
Source: Celcom
Source: Celcom
Source: Celcom
Source: Celcom
Celcom is approaching the pre-order in a slightly different way though. Their pre-order also started 12.01 a.m. this morning. The first 1000 customers to pre-order the device will get an MYR 250 (up to) rebate on their iPhone 13 pre-orders with Celcom. You can also order Apple’s new accessories that are available from Celcom’s stores with the Celcom Mix and Match. Celcom is also offering a 6-month subscription of iQiYi complementary to your iPhone 13 pre-order with them.
For more information on Maxis’ pre-order programme, you can check out their website. You can also visit Celcom to find out more about their pre-order programme and compare prices if you want. Of course, you can find information on Apple’s latest iPhone 13 on their own website. Now we wait for the Apple iPad Mini with the A15 Bionic to be available in Malaysia.
Maxis is working hard on delivering a full complement of services to their customers – be it consumers or businesses. This week saw the launch of one of their newest offerings: Maxis Right Cloud, a one-stop solution for the management of multi-cloud operations developed in-house at Maxis.
Maxis Right Cloud will enable adopters to manage their business clouds from a single platform. Naturally, being a convergent platform, Maxis Right Cloud is cloud-agnostic. This means that it supports not only services from Maxis but also from leading private and public cloud providers like Amazon web services (AWS), Microsoft, and Google. It will allow companies to use a single dashboard to access all the information needed to run the business.
Source: Maxis
The platform is supported end-to-end by Maxis’ very own, in-house expertise. Everything from assessing, designing, migrating, building, securing, and managing cloud infrastructure will be easily accessible on Maxis Right Cloud. Right Cloud is complemented by the company’s competent technical team who have been certified by companies like AWS and Microsoft for their expertise. In addition, the company has also acquired the necessary expertise to complement its workforce from recent acquisitions such as its acquisition of ICMS and Peering One not too long ago.
The Maxis Programmable Network (MPN) provides the backbone for the new offering. The MPN is the first programmable software-defined network with Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) 3.0 certification. This backbone provides a level of scalability and customizability that allows users to be agile and adapt to the fast-changing IT environments without having a lapse in performance.
When it comes to cost, Maxis is looking to adopt a pricing structure similar to leading cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft. Typically, this would entail a pay-as-you-go pay model which should enable SMEs and startups to benefit from the offering.
The introduction of Maxis Right Cloud comes as the latest in series of announcements that gear Maxis to be one of the foremost providers when it comes to converged solutions. The company has been building its capacity to leverage its infrastructure to spur digitization efforts and prepare businesses in Malaysia for 5G adoption.
