Singapore and Malaysia have begun a review of roaming rates, aiming to cut the price of roaming calls between the two countries by up to 30%.
The communications ministers of the two countries, Singapore’s Lui Tuck Yew and Malaysia’s Rais Yatim, said they hoped to “progressively reduce” rates paid by mobile roaming customers.
“This reflects the close relationship between the two countries and recognizes the growing importance of mobile roaming service for mobile users,” they said in a statement on Tuesday.
“In recent years, high retail roaming rates have been an area of concern for many countries,” said the statement, issued by the Singapore Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“Mobile users roaming in another country often pay significantly higher charges for calls as compared to the local mobile user,” it said.
The two regulators are consulting with operators on a proposal to progressively cut both wholesale and retail charges.
They are seeking to reduce roaming voice prices by to 30% and SMS prices by up to 50%, the statement said.
Success of the plan “will be contingent on both countries following through the agreement.”