The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission directed mobile network operators or MNOs to introduce unlimited internet packages, both in terms of validity and volume.
The BTRC issued a directive on Sunday, stating that the MNOs must allow users to carry over any unused data from their current internet package if they renew the same package or purchase it again before the existing package鈥檚 validity period expires.
According to the directive, the MNOs are to introduce unlimited packages considering the consumers interests and affordability. The operators can also introduce packages with time limit considering the consumers interests and affordability.
The commission also restricted the MNOs from offering any internet package during 12.00am to 6.00am and encouraged the MNOs to provide free 200 MB data to all active numbers (optional) each month to ensure digital inclusion, internet and digital services usage proliferation among the customers.
鈥楬owever, the operators will impose a time limit for unlimited volume package,鈥� the directive said.
This means users will not lose their leftover data as long as they continue with the same package before its time runs out.
Telecom sector stakeholders and consumers have been demanding the introduction of unlimited internet packages for a long time.
They have repeatedly alleged that they were not getting the full benefits of the internet packages due to the time limit.
Mobile operators provide a variety of data packages for customers, typically lasting between seven days and a month. The unlimited packages currently available are priced much higher, making them less accessible.
Because of the time restrictions on these packages, many users are unable to fully utilise the data they pay for before it expires.
However, an expert said that the BTRC should also consider the issue from the view of the MNOs.
BM Mainul Hossain, a professor of Institute of Information Technology at the University of Dhaka, stated that the telecom regulatory commission should take into account perspectives from all sides before making and enforcing any decisions.
鈥楾he initiative is appreciable considering the consumers viewpoints. The commission should, however, also consider that whether this directive is feasible for the operators to implement as they too have their investments to protect. The main thing is whether all stakeholders were involved in taking the decision,鈥� he said.
Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer of Banglalink, said, 鈥榃e appreciate initiatives by the regulator to reduce regulatory complexities related to products and services. We do believe having the right to design products for targeted customers will enable us to be more customer-centric.鈥�
鈥楢t the same time, we also emphasise the need to ensure proper and fair competition on the market to ensure the freedom of choice for the mobile users in Bangladesh,鈥� he remarked.
Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata, said, 鈥榃e welcome the new directive and hope that it will reduce the discontents of the digital services consumers.鈥�
The directive also included several other issues.
MNOs in Bangladesh could previously offer up to 40 kinds of packages, now there will be no product count limit and the operators can send up to three promotional SMS in one day.
鈥業nternational roaming, IoT, corporate, SME will remain out of scope of this directive,鈥� it noted.