Number of mobile data packages and duration decreasing

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revised the data guidelines after a year and a half to make those customer friendly. 21 new decisions have been added by way of amendment by deleting one decision in the guidelines. Maximum validity of special day package has been increased from 3 days to 7 days. And the instructions have been given to implement these new decisions from October.

There has been mixed reaction to this directive. Although the 3-day duration package has been criticized, the number of promotional SMS has been reduced from a maximum of 4 to 3, data carry forward up to a maximum of 50 GB data, the customer can fix the talk time, data volume, social pack, SMS according to his choice as a 'Flexible Plan' itself as a regular package. Many are happy with the opportunity to create.

According to sources, BTRC approved 95 packages for internet packages to mobile operators in 2022. They are currently being reduced to 40.

In fact, mobile internet currently has 3, 7, 15, 30 days internet packages before expiry. There are also 2 and 3 hour unlimited internet packages. Currently there is unlimited internet package. Besides, there was a 28-day package a few days ago. But there is strong criticism about the cancellation of the three-day package.

In this regard, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said, 'Any internet package with a period of less than 3 days for mobile operators is a temptation to charge abnormally. That's what operators do. The 3-day validity package is sold to the customer at a higher price.'

Giving an example, the minister said, 'We have seen as a matter of fact that users cannot use all the packages that have been released for 3 days. As a result low income people are cheated. Low-income mobile users will not be affected by this decision. It will not increase the price of internet.'

However, the President of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association Mohiuddin Ahmed urged the government to withdraw from this decision and said that ordinary people of marginal level, laborers, unemployed, students and even low income people are big consumers of mobile internet. The needs of all these customers are also different. Especially small packages that can be purchased by consumers at low cost, the number of customers in this category is about 60 to 70 percent of Bangladesh. We would have applauded BTRC if BTRC had decided that customers can buy seven days or 15 days packages for the same price as the current three days package or mini package. At present the price of a minimum package of 7 days is Tk. 149 to the minimum price of a package of 30 days is Tk. 799. And the unlimited package is usually used by corporates whose price is above Tk. 1100. It is impossible for working people with low income and even students and unemployed youth to use mobile internet for 200 or 300 taka.

It may be noted that, in May 2023, the concerned committee of BTRC asked the operators for detailed information about all their packages and customer service in the months of February, March, April this year. They conducted a month-long customer survey from mid-May to mid-June. On May 30, the committee of BTRC held an open discussion and consultation meeting with representatives of mobile operators, customers, telecom experts and customers related to the sector.