The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced a new tariff, reducing the price of broadband internet at the consumer level under the ‘One Country, One Rate’ initiative. The monthly price for each package has been reduced by 100 Taka.

According to a circular issued on May 18 by the commission’s Systems and Services Division, the price of a 5 Mbps broadband internet connection is now 400 Taka per month, down from 500 Taka. Similarly, the 10 Mbps package will cost 700 Taka instead of 800 Taka, and the 20 Mbps package will be available for 1100 Taka instead of 1200 Taka. However, conversations with local internet service providers (ISPs) reveal that, in some cases, they already provide higher speeds than those specified by the BTRC.

The BTRC prepared the draft of the new tariff and sent it to the Posts and Telecommunications Division for approval. The government later approved the tariff. The circular states that the new tariff will be implemented from July 1st and will be in effect for an initial period of five years.

The circular directs ISPs to maintain the quality of customer service. If internet service is disconnected for five consecutive days for any reason, the customer will pay 50 percent of their monthly bill, and if disconnected for ten consecutive days, they will pay 25 percent of the monthly bill. If the internet connection remains disconnected for 15 consecutive days, the customer will not have to pay any monthly bill for that month. Additionally, the circular includes some regular advice for ISPs to maintain service quality.

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, stated at a discussion meeting on May 17 at the BTRC Bhaban auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, “A decision has been made to reduce prices by 20 percent at the internet service provider level. However, the cooperation of the stakeholders is needed. Besides, prices have been reduced at the IIG (International Internet Gateway) and NTTN (Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network) levels. Customers will reap the benefits of this within the next one or two months.”

The issue of reducing internet prices has been discussed at various times before.

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