Industry regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission says the new interconnection charges between mobile and fixed-line operators reflect traffic volumes. The regulator raised interconnection rates charged by Telekom by 38% to 6.61 sen per minute from 4.8 sen. Access charges for mobile operators were reduced by 28.5% to 8.05 sen per minute from 11.26 sen.

"The principle of access or interconnection charges must reflect the cost," a commission official said.

"Since the traffic for fixed-line is down, the cost of interconnection is higher," the official said. "On the other hand, the large volume of mobile traffic is helping to lower the costs."

Source: Reuters - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News