Number of consumers reduces as the cost of mobile internet increases
In two months, Grameenphone has increased the mobile internet price per GB by 21 taka and that of Robi and Banglalink has increased by 20 taka. However, the price is stable in the internet prices of state-owned Teletalk. After the move of the regulatory commission BTRC to reduce the prices of the mobile operators, the negative impact is being noticed in this regard for unknown reasons. Internet costs have increased by about 30 percent. This has also had an impact on customer growth.
According to BTRC data, the number of mobile internet subscribers in the country was 118.4 million in December last year. In January of the new year, that number decreased to 116.3 million.
BTRC stopped 3-15 days internet package from 15 October 2023. Also, the number of packages has been reduced from 95 to 40. As a result, the cost of using the internet increases by 10-15 taka for the customer. Before the election, the operators offered 1.5 GB internet for 68 taka. But since last 15 days, they are now charging 68 taka for 1 GB internet.
When asked about this, President of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumer Association Mohiuddin Ahmed said, "We protested at that time and told the Minister and the Regulatory Commission that the price of internet will increase eventually. But it turned out that the Commission and the Minister were right. This will reduce the cost of internet. It is seen after the decision period; our claim is correct.
In response to another question, he said that currently the number of internet users is decreasing day by day and this is one of the reasons. There is no doubt that this increase in the price of the Internet will have a negative effect on the customers in the future. The commission should investigate the matter and provide a proper explanation as to why the internet prices have gone up.
Meanwhile, when the price of 1GB of internet went from 48 taka to 68 to 69 taka before the National Assembly election, the mobile phone consumer association took to the streets to protest. Then the then minister Mustafa Jabbar called the operators in the commission and asked them to keep the previous prices. Then the operators fixed the price of 1 GB for a period of seven days at Tk 48. This is very beneficial as a customer. But in November, the operators made 1.5 GB internet package at 68 to 69 taka. Through this they increase the price in the name of providing additional benefits to the customers. After the election (from 15th to 20th of January), the price of 1.5 GB package on the Internet remains the same. As a result, currently 1 GB internet costs 68 to 69 Tk for a period of 7 days. So, the price of Internet per GB of the lowest package has increased from Tk 20 to Tk 21.
