GP postpones eSIM launch due to regulatory hiccups 

Grameenphone (GP) has postponed the launch of their eSIM service. Initially announced to be launched on March 7, the service is not yet accessible to the public.

The postponement took place after BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) withheld the launching of Grameenphone eSIMs last week. 

Sources close to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has informed that the NBR has voiced their concern to BTRC about the impact on revenue collection from the issuance of new SIM if the eSIM is launched. 

According to BTRC Vice-Chairman Subrata Roy Maitra, "We at BTRC welcome new technologies but as a regulator, we have to evaluate the technology as well as the impact it will have on the user's end. That's why we have withheld the launch of eSIM."

When asked when can we expect the service to be launched, he said, "We have a meeting with GP next week and after that discussion maybe we will be able to fix a tentative date when eSIM can be launched."

When contacted, GP's Chief Corporate Affairs officer (acting) Hossain Sadat told the Daily Star,  "Despite system readiness, due to some unavoidable circumstance, Grameenphone has deferred the launch of eSIM. We are in discussion with the authorities to finalise the revised launching date."

eSIMs are devices embedded inside mobile phones, with which users can use telecom services without physical SIM cards. Many countries including some of the neighbouring countries have already launched this service. If the service is launched, Grameenphone will be the first eSIM provider in Bangladesh.