BTRC Boosts Buy-Now-Pay-Later Mobile Market with Locking Policy
To bring smartphones within easier reach of consumers, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has paved the way for installment-based mobile phone sales by permitting the use of SIM network and device slot locking features. The policy was finalized in BTRC’s 293rd and 294th Commission meetings, according to official sources. Notably, telecom operators such as Grameenphone and Banglalink have already started offering mobile phones on installment.
Sources indicate that going forward, mobile phone operators, as well as device manufacturers and importers, will be allowed to sell handsets in installments using either or both SIM/network locking (on all SIM slots) and device locking mechanisms, either independently or in collaboration.
This regulatory decision has been welcomed by industry stakeholders. Rezwanul Haque, Vice President of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB), remarked that the move will enable mobile operators in Bangladesh to sell SIMs along with handsets approved by BTRC, aligning the local market with practices in more developed countries.
As per BTRC’s conditions, operators, manufacturers, and importers may implement both network and device locking in installment sales. Once the consumer has paid all installments—or settles the remaining balance ahead of schedule—the imposed restrictions must be lifted, granting the user full access to use the mobile handset with any preferred network.
While telecom operators are not permitted to import, manufacture, or assemble mobile handsets themselves, they may enter agreements with approved manufacturers or importers to facilitate installment-based sales. In doing so, they must obtain prior approval from BTRC’s Systems and Services Division for each package, whether incentive-based or not, and submit full sales data to the Commission.
Furthermore, all parties involved must comply with any future directives issued by the Commission. With this updated framework, the Commission has officially repealed its earlier directive dated July 2, 2023.
