Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad calls on operators to reduce mobile internet prices

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, the chief advisor’s special assistant on ICT, has called on operators to reduce mobile internet prices.

In a Facebook post on Monday, he wrote, “The government has already provided mobile operators with DWDM [Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing] and dark fibre facilities.

“With this support, private mobile companies do not have a valid excuse not to lower internet prices.”

Noting that reducing mobile internet costs could offer some relief amid ongoing high inflation, he added: “The government has extended policy support to mobile network operators and, through public-private partnerships, reduced wholesale internet rates at both national and international levels. Now it’s their turn to contribute to this national initiative.”

Pointing out that internet prices have already been lowered across multiple tiers, Taiyeb wrote: “All that remains is for the three private mobile service providers to announce similar reductions in their prices.”

He went on to add that internet prices are being reduced at three new levels.

According to him, Fiber@Home management has confirmed price reductions of 10 percent at the ITC level, 10 percent at the IIG level, and 15 percent at the NTTN, or National Transmission level.

When asked for comment, Abbas Faruque, chief government and regulatory affairs officer at Fiber@Home, said: “The government is working to deliver high-quality internet at affordable prices to the people, and we are a part of that journey. We want to ensure that the best service reaches people’s doorsteps.”

Taiyeb also noted, “Previously, the ISP Association had guaranteed 10 Mbps internet at Tk 500 instead of 5 Mbps. Before that, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company reduced prices at the international gateway level by 10 percent for all IIGs and ISPs, and an additional 10 percent for wholesale customers, amounting to a total reduction of 20 percent.”

He expressed hope that the three private mobile operators would soon announce a reasonable reduction in mobile internet prices.

According to him, “The government expects two types of price reductions: First, to reverse the price hike mobile operators implemented in March, citing SRO adjustments. Even after the government rolled back the increased tariff, the operators did not adjust prices accordingly.”

“Second, to implement price cuts at a consumer level that reflect the reduced wholesale prices at the international gateway/ITC, IIG, and national transmission levels.”

Grameenphone, the country’s largest mobile operator by the number of users, did not comment on potential price reductions when asked by bdnews24.com.

Ankit Sureka, head of external communications at Grameenphone, told bdnews24.com: “Internet pricing does not depend on a single factor. It involves multiple elements across the value chain: spectrum, towers, fibre, electricity, and more, and final pricing is based on the combined cost of all these components.”

“Nonetheless, we are prioritising our customers, and evaluating methods to offer them high-quality service at a lower price.”

Sureka also pointed to the high corporate tax rate in the telecommunications sector as a significant contributor to the high cost of mobile internet.

bdnews24.com is still awaiting responses from Robi and Banglalink regarding the government’s call to reduce internet prices.

Taiyeb concluded his statement by addressing ongoing concerns about the quality of mobile internet in Bangladesh, saying: “Prices here are disproportionately high compared to the quality of service. Due to this, the government is committed to taking rational steps in the interest of consumers.”