Malaysia and Singapore are expected to announce the new cellular roaming charges between both countries in two months, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.
Industries in both countries had agreed in principle to the proposal, he added.
"In two months, we will be able to resolve this with Singapore ... a reasonable rate for cellular roaming charges will be announced by then," he told reporters after the opening of the 10th Asean Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting (Telmin), here Thursday.
Malaysia and Singapore announced in June last year that the roaming charges would be lowered by 30 per cent for voice calls and 50 per cent for short messaging service (SMS) in a move to enhance relations.
The proposal had been tabled to operators by the regulatory bodies of both countries, namely the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.
Singapore's Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts, Lui Tuck Yew said the plan to reduce mobile roaming charges would be implemented once the operators finalised the arrangements.
In Singapore, he said, the move would involve the three major telcos -- SingTel, M1 and StarHub.
"It is my belief that all the major companies will be part of this," he added.
Lui said the move would benefit consumers as the amount of movement and people to people exchanges between both countries was significant.
It would also benefit the industry in terms of an increase in communication volume due to the lower charges, he said.
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