Broadband in Malaysia

According to the local media (RM15.2b to boost broadband service), The Malaysian government is doing a RM15.2b deal (about $AU5b) with Malaysia Telecom to roll out high speed broadband, increasing household penetration from 18% to 50% by 2010. There will be three zones:

1. Growth corridors, including KL, with up to 1,000 Kbps
2. Outside the growth corridors, With 2 Mpbs
3. Rural areas, with subsidies from a Universal Service Pla (USP).

However, the exact boundaries of the three regions have not been published.

This differs from Australian Government policy which has essentially two regions: one with 12 Mbps and then an remote area with government subsidies. The Malaysian approach makes more sense, recognizing the reality that it will be feasible to provide higher speed access in densely populated city areas.