Govt: Challenges posed in efforts to lower internet prices

The President’s Office has stated that there were challenges posed in efforts to lower the internet prices of the country and that the government had decided not to lower the prices this year.

Responding to a question of why lowering internet prices were not included in the Strategic Action Plan unveiled by the government, Under-Secretary of the President’s Office Ahmed Hamdhaan stated that there was a lot of complexities in the process and that a lot of things needed to accounted for when deciding for the matter.

“I think that the internet prices haven’t been lowered by the expected rate and time due to the complexities faced in the matter. I think the government has a more holistic approach towards the matter.” Said Hamdhaan speaking at the “Nuvagadi” event held in the President’s Office yesterday.

He also stated that the government had no wish to rush the process and would come with additional expenses levied on the state.

Lowering the internet prices of the country was a pledge made by the government when it came to power. Technology Minister Maleeh Jamaal had previously stated that the Strategic Action Plan included broad plans to improve the internet quality of the country.

The Minister stated at the Committee on National Development And Heritage of the Parliament that with the formation of broadband policy, work will be done to ensure that the internet speed of the country remains above a minimum of 30mbps.