BTRC instructed the operators to reduce the internet prices

The price of mobile internet is decreasing this week. In the name of package updates, they have to come back from selling data at high prices to customers. For that, Teletalk will decrease on November 8 and private three mobile operators: Grameen, Robi and Banglalink will have to decrease from November 10.

This instruction was given in a meeting with the top executives of the country's mobile operators at the head office of the telecommunication regulatory body BTRC in the capital's Agargaon administrative area on Sunday (November 5).

In that meeting, the Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said to the telecom operators that increasing the internet price two months before the election is an anti-government act, a conspiracy. People will not accept the way you are behaving as regulator and BTRC facilitator. You will sell data but not time.'

BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder, commissioner-cum-officers of the commission and representatives of mobile phone operators were present in the meeting.

The recently discontinued three-day internet package was discussed in the meeting along with other issues. In the discussion, the minister directed the mobile phone operators to reduce the internet prices. Directed to offer seven-day internet package to customers at the price of earlier three-day validity package.

On Sunday night, when asked about this, the minister told DigiBangla over telephone, that, 'The operators have increased the price of the package for seven days. They can't do that. And Teletalk will correct the error that occurred with the price while fixing the package and will give a new package from November 8. On the other hand, the other operators have to meet today (Sunday) by November 10. I hope the operators will understand. They will not increase internet prices in reducing 95 packages to 40. Then the price of internet will be reduced.

A source in the meeting said that the minister expressed his deep dissatisfaction and anger in the meeting. Ahead of the country's elections a couple of months later, mobile operators' hike in internet prices is a 'deep conspiracy against the government'. Moreover, they cannot trade data by selling it over time. They have to sell data at the price of data. Data should have the same benefits as when a customer buys rice from a store and spends as per his needs. Any exception to this is a violation of consumer rights.

Earlier, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued a new directive to the operators on September 17 to ensure consumer freedom. According to that directive, where earlier the mobile phone operators could offer a total of 95 packages for 3, 7, 15 & 30 days as well as unlimited periods, it is limited to a total of 40 packages for 7 and 30 days and unlimited time.

But despite accepting the new guidelines, Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh argued that since there is no 3-day package, customers will now have to buy a 7-day package at an additional price. Those who use shorter-term packages due to financial reasons will be more affected. There is a risk of negative financial impact on both the government and operators. Internet subscribers may also decline.

As usual in their speech, After the implementation of the new guidelines, it was seen that- on September 30, when a customer bought a package of 400 minutes and 25 GB for a period of 30 days for 573 taka from a mobile phone operator; At the end of the term, he has to spend Rs. 650 to buy the same package. That means the customer has to pay 77 taka more in one month.

In such a situation, the Post and Telecommunication Minister has instructed the operators to go back to the old guideline prices in the BTRC meeting on Sunday. However, the mobile operator representatives present at the meeting said that the new guidelines have been implemented a few days ago. They said that it is challenging to change it suddenly. However, the minister did not take this argument well. AAs the chief executives of the operators were not present in the meeting; So they were given time till 10 November to implement this advice.

Despite being extremely popular since October 15, the three-day data package has been dropped considering 'customer interest'. At the same time 15 days data package is also excluded. Now there are data packages of 7 and 30 days and another unlimited package. But the customers have complained that the operators have increased the price in this package. They complained that mobile phone operators have increased the price of seven days data package and other packs due to lack of three days data package. Many people are angry about it. The government circles think that the operators have taken a stand against the government by increasing the prices. The adviser himself did not applaud the matter. As a result, the mobile operators have been instructed to reduce the price of the Internet.