The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is looking to lower mobile roaming charges within its ten member countries, and neighbors Singapore and Malaysia look to be the first to see this proposal take effect.
According to the New Straits Times, operators in both countries had agreed to reduce tariff changes. Malaysia’s minister for information and culture Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim had cited a two month time frame for the implementation of the reduced roaming rates.
Regulatory authorities in both countries (Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority and Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission) had proposed last June for operators to slash roaming fees by up to 30% for voice calls and 50% for text messages, in order to enhance bi-lateral relations.
Singapore’s minister of information, communications and the arts, Lui Tuck Yew said the move would be set in motion once operators had confirmed the necessary arrangements.