Government has invited service providers to work together and pledge their support for the President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s initiative to ensure telecommunication and internet connectivity to alleviate daily routines within the constraints of Physical Distancing and Staying Home objectives.
In a statement, President’s Office said recognizing the loss of earnings and income and the additional burden on internet usage due to home stay, e-schooling and working from home, the government is asking service providers to pledge their support for it’s initiative.
President’s initiative asks service providers to assist their consumers in these areas for the next three months should the public health emergency status exist.
- Provision of free fast reliable internet access to all COVID19 taskforce operation centres and cells.
-Provision of free internet access for everyone during the period of mandatory isolation or quarantine.
-Recognizing the extra demand for data beyond normal usage, the government encourages service providers to considerably increase the current data caps and lower the price of data boosts.
In its statement the government said it expects service providers to at least double the original data allowance for 70% of fixed broadband and 50% of mobile broadband customers. It added that it expects service providers to introduce daily-uncapped allowances after package data limit has reached for all fixed broadband and mobile broadband customers.
Operators are encouraged to propose additional solutions that would further allow affordable access to fast internet even after reaching package cap limits.
Government also asked service providers to offer a special data package at an affordable price that would help people stay connected during this pandemic.
Government said it recognizes and thanks service providers for the various initiatives that are beginning to take place, especially in the areas of e-schooling and remote working.
