GP postpones eSIM launch for 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 Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) 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 the BTRC about the impact on revenue collection from the issuance of new SIMs if the eSIM was launched.

"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," said BTRC Vice-Chairman Subrata Roy Maitra. "That's why we have withheld the launch of eSIM," he said.

When asked when the service will 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."

"Despite system readiness, due to some unavoidable circumstance, Grameenphone has deferred the launch of eSIM," GP Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (acting) Hossain Sadat told The Daily Star.

"We are in discussion with the authorities to finalise the revised launching date," he said.

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.