Mahmudul Hasan

BTRC’s independence eroded over the years

Restoring the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC’s) independence by reverting to the original legal framework should be a priority for reform, according to its new chairman Major General (retd) Emdad Ul Bari.

1w ago

Banglalink’s tower sales: BTRC’s negligence deprives state coffers of Tk 69 crore

The state coffer has been deprived of Tk 69 crore for the telecom regulator’s failure to collect the 5.5 percent of the sales price of Summit Tower’s acquisition of Banglalink’s 2,000 mobile towers.

1w ago

Bangabandhu-1 satellite: Another white elephant

The Bangabandhu-1 satellite, one of the marquee projects of the Awami League government, has turned into a financial black hole, costing the state coffer upwards of Tk 1,500 crore.

2w ago

Act fast to address labour unrest

Prompt steps are needed to address the workers’ demands and quell the ongoing labour unrest, said Socialist Labour Front President Razekuzzaman Ratan.

2w ago

Citycell wants licence reinstatement

Citycell, the country’s first mobile operator which has not been operational since 2016, has sent a letter to the telecom regulator recently seeking the reinstatement of its licence.

2w ago

BTRC’s curious U-turn on Summit Communications

The telecom regulator has walked back on its decision just two months ago to allow Summit Communications to transfer its shares without any fee, in a development that raises questions about the extent of benefits the company received during the 15 years of the previous Awami League government.

3w ago

Mobile subscriber numbers drop significantly in July

The number of mobile subscribers in Bangladesh has dropped significantly in July, as all the operators lost customers. .The overall number of mobile subscribers is calculated based on the purchase of new SIMs (subscriber identity modules) minus the number of SIMs whose ownership have beco

4w ago

Handset production rises, but uncertainty looms large

Local production of handsets saw a significant increase in the first half of the year, but manufacturers continue to face challenges due to reduced demand for high-end smartphones.

1m ago
March 26, 2024
March 26, 2024

Mobile phone ownership lower now than in 2020

The percentage of individuals aged over 15 who own a mobile phone was lower in 2023 than in 2020 as the decline in ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic persisted due to grim economic conditions.

March 26, 2024
March 26, 2024

Some Teletalk customers to get access to Banglalink network from today

Some customers of Teletalk will be able to use Banglalink’s network from today as part of a ‘pre-commercial launch’ of national roaming services, bringing relief to subscribers of the state-run operator whose network is hamstrung by weak power backup.

March 25, 2024
March 25, 2024

Govt drafts fresh telecom act

The new act will replace the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001.

March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

Teletalk hamstrung by weak power backup

A significant portion of Teletalk's mobile network towers lacks adequate battery backup systems, exacerbating customer frustrations with its unreliable service and contributing to a steady decline in its subscriber base.

March 16, 2024
March 16, 2024

Bangladesh lags behind peer nations in ICT development

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) releases ICT Development Index 2023

March 14, 2024
March 14, 2024

Boost smartphone use for successful 5G rollout

Bangladesh needs to increase smartphone penetration among its mobile phone users as a prerequisite for the introduction of 5G technology, said Yasir Azman, chief executive officer of Grameenphone.

March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024

BTRC to award 'unified' licences to telcos

The telecom regulator is awarding cellular mobile service operator licences to mobile network operators, unifying the existing licences and setting the groundwork for the launch of 5G technology in the country.

March 3, 2024
March 3, 2024

Robi invests $13m to open country’s first private tier-IV data centre

Telecom operator Robi Axiata has launched Bangladesh’s first commercial Tier-IV data centre in a move to expand its portfolio and cater to the increasing need for data storage driven by surging internet usage amid digitalisation of services.

March 3, 2024
March 3, 2024

Mobile internet users decline for 5th straight month

The mobile internet subscriber count in Bangladesh declined for a fifth straight month in January due to the regulator’s bar on the sale of packages with short validity periods, compounded by persistent inflationary pressure on consumers.

February 28, 2024
February 28, 2024

Daraz to go for significant layoff in Bangladesh to cut costs

Daraz Group, Alibaba’s South Asian e-commerce arm that operates in five markets including Bangladesh, has announced that it will “bid farewell to many valued members” but stopped short of disclosing the number.