Celcom Axiata Bhd is intensifying efforts to enhance the quality of broadband service in the East Coast on expectations of a significant increase in users next year.

The company's eastern region vice president Sulaiman Ahmad said that presently, Celcom's broadband customers in the East Coast were about 150,000 and the initiative to enhance quality would continue so that they would be able to enjoy a perfect service.

"What Celcom is doing is line with the government's aspiration to increase broadband usage among the people from all walks of life.

"We know that broadband usage among the people will make them more IT-literate, at the same time help raise their socio-economic status," he told Bernama.

He said the response to Celcom's broadband packages which cater the needs of all levels of society, was very incouraging.

"In terms of price, it's competitive and reasonable.

"There are various packages which users can choose, either the monthly or weekly package or the daily package for 24-hour use for only RM5," he said.

Sulaiman said Celcom was the first telecommunications company to introduce the daily broadband package which was a hit especially among students.

Market leader

Presently, Celcom was the market leader in the three East Coast states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, with a 52-percent share.

"For the years ahead, we will make sure our market share is retained by offering quality products and with the help of our partners in the East Coast," he said.

He said Celcom was aware that to move forward, the service must meet the needs of customers, especially quality-wise.

"In this regard, we will always make sure the quality of products offered, coverage and also services.

"We constantly take the initiative to expand coverage in urban, rural, Felda and housing areas," he said.

To fulfil its corporate social responsibility, Celcom which has been appointed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as a Universal Service Provider, plays its role by educating the people particularly in rural areas on broadband usage.

Through the programme, 37 broadband community centres have been set up in six states.

"Through this programme, we have distributed 18,500 netbooks under the government's 1Malaysia Netbook programme.

"We also took part in the digital centre programmes in Pekan, Pahang, and Pagoh, Johor. This broadband usage awareness campaign will be enhanced from time to time," Sulaiman said.

- Bernama