Mahmudul Hasan

Bangladeshi card spending falls in India, rises in Thailand, Singapore

Credit card spending by Bangladeshi citizens in India has plummeted in recent months while it is rising in Thailand and Singapore, according to central bank data.

1d ago

Inactive SIM recycling period reduced to 12 months

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has shortened the recycling period for inactive SIM cards from 18 months to 12 months in a bid to address a shortage of mobile numbers available in the country.

1d ago

BTRC recalls bandwidth transit bid to India

The internet regulator is abandoning its plan to allow Bangladesh to be the transit point for bandwidth supply to India’s northeastern states on concerns that it could weaken the country’s potential to become a regional internet hub.

1w ago

BTRC cancels licences of 334 ISPs, others

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revoked the licences of 334 internet service providers (ISPs), business process outsourcing (BPO), telecommunication value added services (TVAS) and vehicle tracking services (VTS) mainly for failing to comply with regulatory rules for licence renewal.

2w ago

BTRC lifts bar on local cache for faster internet

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday repealed a directive it had passed in 2021 restricting small and medium-sized internet service providers (ISPs) from installing cache servers for their network..This policy reversal is expected to enhance internet spee

2w ago

Bangladesh on track for next IMF loans

Bangladesh is on track to meet all 12 conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to qualify for the fourth tranche of a $4.7 billion loan programme, only missing the revenue collection target.

2w ago

Tax hike dents mobile subscriber base

The mobile subscriber base in Bangladesh dropped by over 52 lakh between July and September, the first three months of the current fiscal year, as operators slashed subsidised sales of SIM cards due to increased taxes.

2w ago

How regulatory hurdles keep internet price high and speed low

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has implemented a number of policies over the past 16 years that, according to internet service providers and users, have made Bangladesh pay higher prices for slower internet speeds compared to its neighbours.

3w ago
June 8, 2024
June 8, 2024

Experts divided on 5G necessity

Experts are split on the necessity of rolling out 5G in Bangladesh due to several critical issues.

June 8, 2024
June 8, 2024

5G technology remains a pie in the sky. Why

Is 5G merely a vanity, just another technology that offers nothing extraordinary? Or has it emerged as a central cog in transforming the digital space by resolving issues related to low speed and latency?

June 7, 2024
June 7, 2024

Mobile internet, talktime to be costlier

The government has hiked the supplementary duty on mobile top-ups alongside VAT on SIM cards, pushing up costs that will be incurred by mobile and internet users, which will inevitably put a financial strain on access to essential services.

June 6, 2024
June 6, 2024

‘New law may dent BTRC’s autonomy’

The government will have the power to set the terms of removal and resignation of the commissioners of the telecom regulator, according to a draft law.

June 4, 2024
June 4, 2024

Regulator, GP holding talks over Tk 6,000cr late fees

The telecom regulator and Grameenphone have initiated negotiations regarding late fees of around Tk 6,000 crore based on an audit claim, as both parties seek an out-of-court settlement on the matter.

May 31, 2024
May 31, 2024

Meta to deal directly with advertisers in Bangladesh

The development has created panic among businesses as they apprehend difficulties in ensuring compliance with VAT and tax regulations when advertising directly with Meta.

May 29, 2024
May 29, 2024

Allocation for interest payments to rise 38%

The allocation for interest payments of domestic and foreign loans will likely increase by 38 percent to Tk 129,000 crore in the upcoming budget due to a significant hike in the cost of borrowing from both sources

May 27, 2024
May 27, 2024

Cyclone disrupts 10,000 telecom towers, millions out of service

Power outage due to cyclone Remal has caused over 10,000 mobile towers or base transceiver stations (BTS) to go out of service, affecting the mobile and internet services of millions of people in the southern districts

May 26, 2024
May 26, 2024

Mobile operators allowed to pay spectrum fee in taka

The telecom regulator has decided to allow mobile phone operators to pay spectrum acquisition fees in the local currency, a relief for them as the US dollar has become costlier to a large extent.

May 21, 2024
May 21, 2024

AI starts to replace entry-level IT jobs in Bangladesh

It was a pretty good project for SkyTech Solutions for the last few years: generating earnings of $8.5 per hour for each of over 50 people.