The government on Thursday announced much anticipated changes to internet prices. Reducing the cost of internet is a presidential pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
According to the Science and Technology Ministry, residential internet prices will be reduced by 30 percent effective from July this year. The data allowance for prepaid and postpaid and mobile broadband will be increased by 20 percent, and the changes will apply to mobile internet prices effective from August.
Speaking at a virtual ceremony held to announce the changes, newly appointed Technology Minister Aiminath Shauna said the government accommodated reductions in internet prices with the cooperation of internet service providers, Dhiraagu and Ooredoo. Internet has today become a necessity which affects every aspect of day to day life, said Shauna.
The government also announced changes to minimum internet speed and throttle speeds. With the change, no packages can be sold if the speed is below 2 Mbps. The throttle speed must also remain above 2 Mbps after the fair usage allowance is used up. All internet packages above MVR 300 must have a throttle speed above 5 Mbps.
The new internet packages will be designed as follows:
- Packages below MVR 250: Speed 5 Mbps, Data 30 GB (Throttle Speed: 2 Mbps)
- Packages below MVR 500: Speed 15 Mbps, Data 100 GB (Throttle Speed: 5 Mbps)
- Packages below MVR 700: Speed 25 Mbps, Data 200 GB (Throttle Speed: 5 Mbps)
