Telco players likely to offer similar products to rival Celcom, U Mobile new plans

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KUCHING: Telecommunication players have been projected to introduce similar products to rival that of Celcom Axiata Bhd’s (Celcom) and U Mobile Sdn Bhd’s (U Mobile) respective new plans.

AmInvestment Bank Bhd (AmInvestment Bank) highlighted that Axiata Group Bhd’s wholly-owned Celcom has finally introduced a postpaid plan with unlimited data with its MEGA product launch.

While the base MEGA postpaid plan at RM80 per month does have a 30GB Internet quota and unlimited calls to all networks, the research firm saw that Celcom offers add-ons with Unlimited Mobile Internet or Lightning Mobile Internet speed options.

Meanwhile, U Mobile has launched a new GX38 prepaid plan which offers unlimited data at a promotional price of RM35 per month with a speed cap of 6Mbps, compared with 3Mbps for its existing GX30 plan priced at RM30 per month.

“For comparison, Digi.Com Bhd (Digi) currently has the Infinite online plan which offers unlimited data and calls at RM100 per month while Unifi Mobile is priced at RM99 per month,” AmInvestment Bank said.

“Maxis Bhd (Maxis) currently does not have an unlimited data plan, with the highest MaxisOne quota of 60GB priced at RM188 per month. Given Celcom’s new plans, we expect the remaining players to introduce similar products against the backdrop of the industry’s declining subscribers.

The research firm recalled that total mobile subscriber trajectory returned to its downward trajectory in the third quarter of 2019 (3Q19) after a brief uptick in the previous quarter, highlighting that cellular price war competition remains intense.

“Mobile subscribers decreased by 46,000 quarter on quarter (q-o-q) as prepaid declines of 226,000 were only partially offset by postpaid additions of 180,000.

“Only Maxis registered a 141,000 increase while Celcom dropped by 153,000 and Digi by 34,000. In 4Q19, Digi resumed its decline in subscribers, falling 0.4 million q-o-q to 10.9 million.”