Malé, Maldives —The government of Maldives has once again delayed the announcement of cheaper internet prices in the country.
The Spokesperson of the President’s Office, Mohamed Mabrook Azeez has stated that the new prices for internet has been postponed to be revealed on next Thursday morning at 10:00.
While the prices were initially said to be announced yesterday, the event was postponed to today due to administrative issues. However, as the new prices were not revealed on the given time period, local media outlets began to raise questions regarding the matter to which, Spokesperson Mabrook officially tweeted to inform that the event has been postponed for the upcoming Thursday.
The government has presented:
- 30GB at the speed of 5MBPS for MVR 250 (2MBPS as throttle speed).
- 100GB at the speed of 15MBPS for MVR 500 (5MBPS as throttle speed).
- 200GB at the speed of 25MBPS for MVR 750 (5MBPS as throttle speed).
Reducing the price of internet was one of the most important vows made by the President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih when he came into power. However, as no change has been seen in the prices of internet even after three years of presidency, several citizens have been raising concerns and criticizm towards the government.
In May, the then acting Communications Minister Fayyaz said that talks are being held for the past 2 months to ensure investment opportunities in Maldives in the telecommunications sector and reduce internet prices.
The incumbent government’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP) states that efforts to lower internet prices will begin in the year 2022.
Speaking at recently on the occasion of World Telecommunications Day, Incumbent Minister Aminath Shauna has said that internet quality will be improved and prices will be lowered.
Former Tech. Minister Maleeh who was removed from office by a parliamentary vote of no confidence was highly criticized by the public for not fulfilling the promise to lower internet prices.
Recently Maleeh that the government had no intention of lowering the prices and accused the government of thwarting his attempts to reduce the prices. Maleeh said this following a tweet by former acting Tech. Minister Fayyaz Ismail who said that the government is working on bringing more significant changes.
Fayyaz was addressing a comment made by State Minister Tech., Ali Solih that the presidential pledge of lowering internet prices had been fulfilled.
Economic Minister of Maldives, Fayyaz Ismail had stated on November 15, 2020, that they expect the pricing of telecom services to get cheaper as the government has decided to give another company the license to provide telecom services in the Maldives. The lower internet prices were supposed to go into effect in 2021, however, no significant changes have been implemented to this end.
