‘Strict actions against mobile operators for call drops from July 1 & 5G rollout in October from ports’

The government is going to be strict in compensating Calldrop to ensure international quality mobile customer service. Cold drop campaign will start from July 1. At the same time, instructions have been given to the four service providers that 5G and IoT can be used in airports and important industrial areas of the country from next October.

State Minister for State Minister for Telecom and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak made the remarks on the day at a meeting organised by the BTRC to discuss the service quality of mobile operators at the commission’s office at Agargaon in the capital Dhaka.

The meeting was presided over by BTRC Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed and the top officials of mobile phone operators including AMTOB President and Grameen Phone CEO Yasir Azman were present. BTRC Commissioner Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, Robi Aziata Company Secretary Mohammad Shahedul Alam, AMTOB General Secretary Mohammad Zulfikar also spoke at the meeting among others.

Meanwhile, Yasir Azman sought the support of the state minister to remove the obstacles in setting up the tower as well as launch innovative services. He said, we are committed to providing investment protection through the opportunity to bring innovative services to the market.

“Mobile phone users are dissatisfied with call drops. According to the BTRC, the quality of service is not very satisfactory. In this case, we will not spare anyone. I will take action against cold drops from July 1. No matter the city or village, we will take into account the media reports and conduct drives there”, State Minister Zuniad Admed said at the meeting.

‘Mobile operators in Bangladesh will be forced to compensate for the call drops customers experience while using mobile phones,’ Palak said, adding that the operators would have to financially compensate the users if they did not provide services at the level of promised standards.

Palak further stated that he won’t be satisfied until significant feedback on call drops from customers and journalists is gathered, regardless of what mobile operators say about call drops, in the next six months.

The state minister said that financial audit and technical audit would be emphasised, taking into account the users’ response.

 Palak said that a specific target for 5G rollout had been given to the BTRC and the four mobile operators operating in the country.

‘It is the prime minister’s directive to roll out 5G at airports, sea ports, some business districts and some important commercial-industrial areas, then to roll out gradually the services in the whole country,’ Palak said. He also said that the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport might be inaugurated in October. ‘Targeting that I give you (four mobile operators) a challenge to ensure that 5G service is available in that area by October 30,’ he added.