1. INTRODUCTION The telecommunications sector in Malaysia has undergone significant physical and structural transformation in the past fifteen years. Between 1985 and 2000, the country’s telephone penetration rate rose by 540 per cent. Equally importantly, privatization and liberalization of the sector in the 1980s ushered in an era of regulatory reforms and competition in the sector. The market structure as well as the regulatory framework and institutions for the telecommunications sector continue to evolve. As other countries that have privatized their telecommunications are learning now, privatization per se is easy. The real challenge lies in what to do after that – putting in place adequate regulatory framework and institutions that will ensure industry growth as well as protect consumer welfare. The on-going micro-regulatory reforms in the sector seek to fine-tune the regulatory mechanisms in the sector.