The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers’ Association (BMPCA) has called for the removal of the floor price for mobile voice calls and a reduction in call drop rates to zero. The organization submitted a written appeal to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Wednesday, December 12.
The BMPCA’s statement alleges that increasing the floor price of voice calls from 25 paise to 45 paise hindered competition among operators despite objections from the public. While the quality of service has improved, the cost for consumers has risen, leading to a steady decline in the volume of voice calls.
BMPCA President Mohiuddin Ahmed stated, “Currently, with a ceiling price of 2 taka, some operators are charging additional VAT and service fees, causing widespread dissatisfaction among users. While voice calls are free in many developed countries, Bangladesh’s floor price of 45 paise and ceiling price of 2 taka create significant disparities domestically and internationally.”
Alongside their complaint, the BMPCA provided recommendations to address these issues. These include implementing a more widespread per-second charging system, introducing special call packages for rural areas where people rely heavily on mobile communication, and mandating network improvements by mobile operators, tower companies, and other entities in the ecosystem.
