Restrictions withdrawn: up to an hour of mobile data allowed

By withdrawing the existing restrictions on the possession of mobile Internet packages, the telecommunications regulator on Sunday allowed mobile operators to offer even hourly data packages.

However, as per the latest directive of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the hourly package will be limited to 200 megabytes (MB) of data.

Similarly, daily packs have been capped at 3GB, 2-day packs at 5GB and 3-day packs at 8GB.

The regulator in October 2023 ordered operators to halt all remaining data packages other than these for 7 days, 30 days and indefinitely. Both consumers and operators opposed the restriction.

After finding that around 70% of users preferred 3-day packages, operators were able to offer 1, 3, 7 and 30-day packages alongside unlimited packages in July last year.

Despite this, mobile internet subscriptions declined to around Rs 13.72 crore in October from Rs 14.22 crore in June.

As before, unused data will expire unless the user purchases the same package before it expires.

Welcoming the relaxation in regulations, mobile operators said it would help them offer more innovative and customer-centric services.

Tanveer Mohammad, Director Corporate Affairs, Grameenphone, said: “This has created opportunities for us to deliver innovative services to our customers, ultimately improving their overall experience.

Highlighting further room for improvement, he said flexible and principles-based guidelines or directives could play a significant role in digital inclusion for more people and reduce the digital divide.

BTRC encouraged all operators to offer a free 200MB package every month to all active users for deeper internet penetration.

Banglalink’s director of corporate and regulatory affairs Taimur Rahman said: “We appreciate the regulator’s initiatives to reduce regulatory complexity related to products and services. We believe that having the right to design products for target customers will enable us to be more customer-centric.”

“At the same time, we also emphasize the need to ensure proper and fair competition in the market to ensure freedom of choice for mobile phone users in Bangladesh,” he added.