Celcos support move, seek MCMC standard registration

By B.K. sidhu and goh ee koon

WHILE the three mobile operators support the Government’s plan to register all prepaid users, they have asked the Malaysian Multimedia and Communications Commission (MCMC) for guidelines on how to implement the compulsory prepaid registration effectively, with minimal inconvenience to their subscribers. 

Maxis Communications Bhd, Celcom (M) Bhd and DiGi.Com Bhd in a joint statement yesterday said: “We will always be supportive of the Government’s call whenever it benefits the country, industry and consumers. 

“We are currently working towards achieving compliance with the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry’s call for prepaid registration, first and foremost by determining the full mechanics of a standardised registration procedure with th Government, MCMC, the industry and other relevant authorities.  

“The registration procedure needs to fulfil the ministry’s requirements, while at the same time, be convenient for customers to register for a prepaid line without unnecessary hassle. We have put forward an industry resolution to the MCMC and are working with it to conclude the process of implementation.’’  

It added that “in line with the ministry’s call, consumers should work together with mobile communications providers to ensure the overall objectives of this effort are achieved.’’  

It was reported yesterday that celcos are to carry out compulsory registration of all prepaid users at year-end. Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the Cabinet had decided on the move for security reasons and to stop abuse. 

Several months ago, when Lim indicated that a registration for prepaid users would be implemented, some players were for it and others against it. But now all have decided to toe the line in view that it is done for security reasons.  

Lim said a pilot project would kick off next month in Malacca and Penang.  

Maxis chief executive officer Datuk Jamaludin Ibrahim saidhe did not expect the Government’s decision to register prepaid mobile customers would overly affect its subscriber numbers. 

“There may be users who prefer to be anonymous, so they use prepaid services, but that is a small group and will not affect us,” Jamaludin said at the signing ceremony of a 3G agreement between Maxis and Siemens Malaysia Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. 

He said Maxis was currently working closely with other prepaid mobile phone operators and the MCMC to come up with a solution for registering these subscribers.  

“We don’t want to create more hassle for our new and existing subscribers. The Government’s objective (to register them) is to minimise abuse, like people using mobile phones for things they should not be doing and getting away with it just because they are anonymous,” he said. 

Maxis has always offered registration for its prepaid customers, but only on a voluntary basis.  

The process of registering prepaid subscribers, though, was described as a simple one. “The cost is quite small, but we are trying to ensure we are not making it difficult for customers,” Jamaludin said. 

Maxis’ mandatory registration process has started on a trial basis outside the Klang Valley.  

Jamaludin said starting this registration in the Klang Valley, where 40% to 50% of its subscribers were, was risky. 

Registration comes at no added cost to subscribers. 

As of March 2005, Maxis' prepaid customers make up 5.3 million out of its total 6.5 million customers. 

 
MAXIS :  [Stock Watch]  [News] 
CELCOM :  [Stock Watch]  [News] 
DIGI :  [Stock Watch]  [News]