Whether you’re working from home, streaming your favourite series or grinding up the MMR ladder on that multiplayer game, having a fast and reliable home Internet connection is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury.
However, Internet prices and plans can vary widely, offering options for different budgets and needs. It's important to periodically review your home Internet plan to ensure it aligns with your usage and that you're not paying for more than what you require.
Here are 4 tips on how to get the most value out of your home Internet plans:
1. Claim income tax deductions for your home Internet bills
Did you know that monthly bills for Internet subscriptions are tax-deductible in Malaysia? Claimable up to RM2,500 under the lifestyle expenses category, this means that you can spend up to RM208/month on home Internet plans, claim the expense on your LHDN e-filing AND pay less income tax as a result. Woah!
To be eligible for the tax deduction, just ensure that your home Internet plan is registered under your name, keep the e-receipts, and voila, you’re good to go! With RM208/month to spend, there are many awesome home Internet plans you can choose from, such as Time's 200Mbps plans up to their top-tier 2Gbps plans.
Not only that, if you sign up online, you can get the first month for free, giving more leeway to claim for other tax deductions under the lifestyle category. Moreover, you can enjoy Time Fibre Home 600Mbps plan for only RM99/month for the first 6 months! Now that’s what we call getting the most value out of your home Internet.
2. Choose the right type of Internet connection for your home
In Malaysia, the two most common types of home Internet connections are fibre broadband and mobile broadband, each relying on different technologies to transmit broadband signals and offering distinct advantages:
- Fibre broadband utilizes fibre-optic cables to transmit signals, which not only provides a faster connection but also ensures greater stability. This makes it especially suitable for activities that demand high data transfer rates, such as streaming high-definition videos, conducting online gaming, or managing smart home devices. It is ideal for high-rise buildings and landed homes where a reliable and consistent Internet connection is crucial.
- Mobile broadband, on the other hand, uses the same wireless networks as your smartphones. Its main strength lies in portability, allowing you to stay connected on-the-go with just a wireless router or USB modem. This type of connection is ideal for those who frequently travel or do not have a permanent residence. While convenient, it generally offers less stability and lower speeds compared to fibre broadband, making it less ideal for heavy usage scenarios.
In Malaysia, Time offers the fastest, 100% pure fibre network broadband to consumers. In fact, Time is the first in Malaysia to offer TRUE 2Gbps — the fastest home Internet plan that truly provides speeds of up to 2Gbps, not just a combination of two 1Gbps connections (1Gbps + 1Gbps).
Time’s presence and coverage are ever-expanding. You can check its availability here.
3. Make sure you’re using home Internet equipment that are up to par
Having the proper Internet equipment for your household is something that many Malaysians overlook and may result in subpar connectivity throughout their home. For example, if you’re using the latest smartphones, tablets or laptops with WiFi 6 but your router doesn’t, your devices can’t fully utilise the high-speed connection that they're capable of.
Thankfully, Internet service providers such as Time offer WiFi 6 router for FREE with all of its speed plans so that you can utilise the next-generation WiFi technology in all its glory. For their 600Mbps plans and above, you’ll also get WiFi 6 mesh devices for free, which further widens the range of your WiFi connection at home - perfect for those living in large homes.
If you want to upgrade even further, Time the Gig Speed Home (FTTR) add-on, which enhances your home Internet connection by installing nearly invisible fibre cables in all of your rooms, for only RM55/month. Awesome!
4. Use ‘Kabel Besar’ for the most value out of your home Internet connection
With Time’s “Kabel Besar” which is 100% Fibre Network, 100% Owned by Time, the company strives to provide its customers with a fully stable connection built for the future. Beyond that, Time also provides 24/7 Support to their customers, through phone calls, live chat, email or even the Time app.
So, what are you waiting over? Visit Time’s official website to find out more about its exclusive offerings and better yet, sign up for one of the Time Fibre Home plans today!
