What do you think?

Maybe most of them goes to addressable advertising already?
Nowadays when I play On Demand content (Astro Go too), the total ads duration could go up to 45 seconds (multiple ads plays after another).

Service Tax for Astro Pay TV service is now 8%, while Astro Fibre services remains 6%
Turns out I'm wrong. Initially I thought that Astro won't be affected with this 8% SST increase because Astro should be part of "telecommunication services" which remain as 6%...
Based on what I understand so far, here's what I can conclude:

• Pretty much anything that involves your Astro pay TV service, from Astro packs, addons, movie rentals, reconnection fees, etc, all will be subjected to 8% Service Tax.
• Pretty much anything that involves your Astro Fibre, Astro & Broadband, Internet service itself, Mesh WiFi, reconnection fee for broadband services, all remain as 6% Service Tax.
• If you subscribe to Astro Fibre or Astro & Broadband that bundles TV and Internet service in one bill, you will see a separate 6% and 8% Service Tax respectively on your Astro bill.
• You shall see a prorated Service Tax between your Feb-Mar '24 bill. Example: You subscribe only to Astro pay TV service without any broadband, hence 6% for prior 29 Feb 2024, then 8% from 1 Mar 2024 onwards.
• Thinking of terminating Astro by giving the excuse of this Service Tax hike? Nice try. There's no special treatment whatsoever on this, so whatever hurdles you know about terminating Astro, it remains the same.
• Technical visit fee (e.g. RM65) remain unchanged. According to their FAQ, they say they will absorb the additional 2% Service Tax from the current 6% 👀
• Prices of streaming apps from Astro so far remain unchanged, only except Zee5, which will increase from RM10.60 to RM10.80 incl. 8% SST.

Reference: https://support.astro.com.my/category/payment-billing
https://products.astro.com.my/apps/zee5

You subscribe la, then you share with us on the experience on how is it like.
If not happy, stop after 24 months lo...
Yeah. Astro Fibre is mainly runs on TM HSBB infra, same like other ISPs like Maxis Fibre, CelcomDigi Fibre, etc.
If there's a infra related breakdown from TM, that depends on how soon TM installer can fix it.

Only way to find out: wait for your next bill
No difference anyway, we all can't escape from the 8% Service Tax

That's what I thought too, but looks like they don't care anymore whether it's prepaid or postpaid.
They gonna exclude SST for pretty much everything, even for NJOI and Sooka...
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...ost&p=109253921


https://support.sooka.my/hc/en-us/articles/...ording-to-8-SST

This post has been edited by joshhd: Mar 1 2024, 04:42 PM

You're currently using Astro Fibre? Nice.
How long already? How's the overall network reliability so far?
It's rare to see actual Astro Fibre users here lol... Can give some review? Good? Bad?

Opps... One charges 6% SST for both, but another charges 6% and 8% separately... This is gonna look awkward

Source: https://soyacincau.com/2024/03/01/unifi-8-p...nt-service-tax/

Hah? It seems that TM and Astro interprets "telecommunication services" differently...

This post has been edited by joshhd: Mar 1 2024, 09:33 PM

Meanwhile for Astro Fibre (marketed as WiFi Kencang)

And then...

Ah, fight fight fight...

It's always Private IP by default, regardless of speed.
If you want Public IP, pay extra RM5 per month.

Can. Just inform customer service about this, and you'll be charged additional RM5 every month.

Installation fee is free for Ultra Box depends on which pack you're in, and also whether you're using Plug & Play or Satellite. It is not always free.
Refer here: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...ost&p=108992298

You got to ask this question towards the broadcaster (Media Prima), not Astro.
Because if they want Astro to transmit their channels in HD, they shall need to pay extra money to Astro.
Otherwise, it will forever be in SD quality.

But RTM doesn't think that way.

Yes. You call their customer service, say you want to terminate Astro, and when they ask why, give some nice excuses such as "I want to watch Astro but I'm having financial issues now".
Then only they will propose some retention offers (or you call it "Stay with Astro") discounts or free channel previews that nobody is ever heard of.

It is believed that the discount amount varies depending on your subscription package. Meaning, the higher pack tier you're currently on, the higher rebate you'll get.

They have an ongoing free box upgrade campaign that is eligible for legacy pack customers. But do note that this campaign is not eligible for Multiroom boxes.
If I'm not mistaken, I think now Super Pack customers are eligible for free Ultra Box upgrade as well.

That agent that tells you "it will be re-contract to 2 years", either he or she probably just want to achieve their KPI, or that agent is clueless... so no need to be bothered about that.
Instead of calling their customer service, I found out a way that you can chat with their agent easily here:

1. Go to https://product.astro.com.my/tv
2. Click/tap the chatbot icon on bottom right corner of the screen, that look something like this:

3. Click Upgrade Astro TV
4. Wait for an agent to attend you.

Also, if you still want a Satellite reception, you must specifically tell that agent to create your box upgrade order as Satellite.
If you don't, they will just promote how great their Plug & Play box is, and then eventually create your box upgrade order as Plug & Play instead.

Meaning we can retain our old superpack and upgrade to Ultra Box?
Correct, and no contract whatsoever.

As I see from their website is requiring me to upgrade to new package.
The campaign that I told you earlier, is for targeted customers, which is legacy pack customers.
The ones you see on website, is mainly targeted for new customers.
And officially, of course Astro will encourage you to switch to their new packs. Astro been wanting to force legacy pack customers to switch to the new packs for so long now, but not everyone is in favour of their new packs, especially with their contract auto renewal rule, which kinda turns people off. But they still need to find something to please those legacy pack customers to stay on Astro.

BTW, is it possible we still use our existing satellite connection after we opted for Plug & Play? Since the box for P&P is still having the dCSS antena input.
Generally, the same Ultra Box that all of us have in our homes can be operated under this 2 modes, which is Satellite and Plug & Play.
But just because technically it can, it doesn't mean they allow it based on the account tagging for your Astro account.

If you intend to continue using satellite dish reception, you must tell that agent to create your order as Satellite.
However, if you don't say anything or tell them to proceed with Plug & Play, then eventually your Astro account will be tagged as Plug & Play account.

Plug & Play means, 100% Internet streaming, without relying on the satellite dish. So your ultra box will completely ignore and do nothing even if you try to connect the cable to the satellite dish.
So if your Internet sucks or down, then good luck.

You might think, why not just perform Restore Factory Settings on that box and then select Satellite mode? You can do that, and then what you'll see is "Subscription Required" message on almost ALL of the channels, even the free basic channels as well.
Don't doubt. This has nothing got to do with refresh smartcard whatsoever.
This is actually intentional and purposely done by Astro. It is believed that this is to deter Plug & Play customers to switch their box operating mode to Satellite mode by themselves.
Because from their perspective, an Astro account that is supposed to be Plug & Play mode, should not be using Satellite in the first place.

This issue won't happen if you tell the agent to create your order as Satellite. That way, your Astro account will continue to be tagged as Satellite in their system.

I hope you'll be able to make better decisions with this information above.

Smart Card Error? Have you tried refresh smartcard by yourself?

How did you contact them? You call 0395433838 and the agent tells you like what you just said, or how?

Btw, Astro is introduced in the year of 1996. Are you sure you're an Astro customer for 30 years?
Glad to hear that. If you're certain that you are on legacy pack, then you can use My Astro app to do the upgrade. Otherwise, talk to the support agent on Astro website should be good enough.

This is obviously a technical glitch on their end. The issue is coming from their system, and it is not that they intentionally continue charging the terminated customer.
Sounds like something messed up on their end then.
If that's the case, once the issue resolves, make sure to contact the customer service again and request for prorated waiver.
Meaning, make sure that you are not billed for the amount of days that you're not able to watch Astro.
They will count from the day you file that complaint report until the day the issue is solved.