BTRC Lifting Restrictions, Operators Now Can Offer Packages As Desired

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is lifting the restrictions on mobile internet. In this, the company is helping at least 12.5 crore customers in the country. As a result, operators will also be able to offer internet packages as desired. From there, customers have to choose the data package of their preferred volume and duration. The new decision will further reduce the price of the internet, BTRC hopes.

After the launch of 3G in the country in 2013, mobile operators started providing internet services. Since then, companies have been offering data packages to customers for different periods with the approval of BTRC. However, BTRC “intervened” for the first time in 2022 to tackle customer confusion and data manipulation by operators in the offer of various packages. 

By the turn of the year, on October 15, 2023, the widely used 3-day and 15-day data packages were again dropped due to customer complaints. From 95, the number of packages was reduced to only 40. 

Even though the companies have objected to this with arguments that the option of choosing the package of the customer has “decreased” as well as the “cost of data has also increased”, however, it was not taken into consideration.

BTRC Director (SS) SM Rezaur Rahman said that they should make their plans considering the customers. Customers will also benefit through quality service and pricing.

According to mobile operators, customers will enjoy more freedom in purchasing data if the new guidelines come into effect. They are also talking about paying extra attention to reduce customer confusion to “zero”.

“We hope to get a new instruction within 15 days. Depending on this, we can provide new product design services,” said Shaheed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer of the mobile operator Robi.

Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer of Banglalink said, if one can buy the package as he or she needs, it will definitely be good for the customer. It will be better for smaller offers -- because our customers prefer small packages, he added.