BTRC suspended sales of Grameenphone SIM

Grameenphone, the country's top mobile phone operator, has failed to ensure quality of services even after becoming an SMP (Significant Market Power). People from all walks of life expressed their dissatisfaction at their service-quality. Even the Prime Minister herself is angry with the quality of service rendered by the operator. The telecom regulator BTRC has banned the sale of the operator's SIM as it has not complied with the instructions to improve the quality despite repeated reminders. Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mostafa Jabbar confirmed that, the operator could get approval to sell new SIMs only by upgrading the standard of services they are supposed to render. “We have not seen any initiative taken by Grameenphone to improve the quality of its services despite our repeated reminders. They will increase the number of customer, but not the quality of service; it cannot be allowed. Until they improve the quality of services and bring it to a satisfactory level, the sale of Grameenphone SIMs will be banned,” told the minister to Digi Bangla. He added, 'Grameenphone's quality of service has been deteriorated for a long time. The Prime Minister herself is annoyed with GP’s services. She can't talk on Grameenphone. Instead of improving, their service is getting worse every day. They will increase the number of customers and they will suffer will never be accepted.’ BTRC sent the order to Grameenphone after approving the instruction to stop selling SIMs on Wednesday (June 29) at noon. There, the operator has been  suspended the sale of the new SIM until they ensure the quality of service to the customers. While asked about this, BTRC Vice Chairman Subrata Roy Maitra said that Grameenphone is not able to provide quality services (voice calls and internet). The operator (Grameenphone) will not be able to sell the SIM until further notice. According to a report published by BTRC, the number of Grameenphone subscribers till last May is 8 crore 49 lakh 50 thousand. Grameenphone bought the most spectrum (60 MHz) in the last auction held on March 31. Earlier, Grameenphone had 47.40 MHz. In all, the spectrum of the operator is 107.40 MHz. However, like the rest of the operators, Grameenphone is not able to use the newly allocated spectrum. Operators will be able to use the spectrum from next December. It is learned that Grameenphone is currently serving 1.4 million subscribers on one MHz, which is more than any other operator. If new spectrum is added, it will be (one MHz) 7 lakh 70 thousand subscribers.