JOHOR BAHARU, July 26 (Bernama) -- The trial periods of between six and a year given to companies offering 4G technologies may be shortened, says Minister of Information, Communication and Culture, Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim.
The ministry will not allow the companies to test the technologies for too long a period, he said.
"The trial period for now is from six months to a year. I would prefer it if the trial period is brought further down to less than six months. Once the standard has been determined, then we will approve (the provision of 4G spectrum)," he told reporters following the launch of Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd's "Long Term Evolution (LTE) Proof Of Concept Showcase 2011" here Tuesday.
Dr Rais said his ministry would be awarding the 4G spectrum to companies offering the advanced telecommunications services at the end of the year.
He said his ministry wanted to speed up the process for obtaining the 4G spectrum in line with the decision made by the National Economic Council, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, for faster awarding of the licenses once all conditions have been met with.
He said his ministry was aware that the companies involved in 4G technologies had made huge investments and that it had no plans to delay.
On Puncak Semangat's capabilities, the first Bumiputera company which is currently testing its 4G technology, he said he found the company competent and needed to be given encouragement.
He also called on Internet service providers in the country to offer packages at competitive rates for the rural folks.
"The ministry will be happy if the monthly pay for customers in the village areas with income of less than RM1,000 is kept at between RM10 and RM15 a month for the use of broadband," he said, urging the companies to consider the suggestion.
Meanwhile, Dr Rais, who had a meeting with Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman earlier in the day today, said that he had asked the Menteri Besar to look into ensuring that local bureaucracy does not delay efforts to build telecommunication towers.
Todate, a total of 31 from the 48 telecommunication towers planned for Johor have already been built at a cost of RM60 million, he added.
Source: Bernama
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