The government has no plans to provide free broadband or WiMax service to the people at the present time, said Deputy Minister of Information Technology and Culture Joseph Salang.

He said however the government had implemented an initiative for free broadband services for certain areas based on current needs.

"As of now there no governments or countries that provide free broadband services, however there are major cities in the world who do provide free broad band services for free," Salang said in reply to a question by Senator Muhamad Yusof Husin in the Dewan Negara today.

Salang said among free broadband initiatives that were implemented by the government were 104 locations under the broad band project in Penang and Kulim in Kedah.

"The government with local authorities has implemented free WiFi service for a year for a pioneer project in 10 public libraries in the Klang Valley," he said.

Studying the criticism

He said if the government provided broadband service for free it was feared that quarters would not invest in the service.

"If the WiFi broadband spectrum or frequency was free and unlicensed, it would be based on the situation, and if the providers wanted to provide it for free.

"If we feel the broadband service should be provided free, who would subscribe for the service, so we must look into this matter," he said

Replying to a supplementary question by Senator Dr M Malasingam on the high service charge for broadband service, Salang said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and Telekom Malaysia Berhad were conducting a study on the capacity, quality and cost of broadband service which often received much criticism from people.

"The results of the study will be tabled to the Cabinet Committee on Broadband in February next year," he said.

- Bernama