Telecom operators to cut internet prices

All private mobile operators are going to reduce tariff on the pay-per-use internet packages, responding to an initiative taken by the telecom regulator.
“We have informed the operators that the subscribers should get the benefit of the revised tariff from July 1,” Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), said earlier.
Pay-per-use is the internet package that subscribers enjoy by default prior to shifting to any other package. This package comes at a comparatively higher tariff rate -- Tk 20 per megabyte of download.
However, after a series of meetings with the regulator, the operators agreed to reduce the price.
More than three crore people use the internet in Bangladesh, with 95 percent having access through the mobile network, according to the BTRC website.
Grameenphone was the first to declare the new internet tariff rate on Tuesday, followed by Robi.
Mahmud Hossain, chief corporate officer of Grameenphone, said, “We have decided to reduce the internet price on the pay per use package to become customer-centric. There are some formalities and backend works left to execute the new tariff plan.”
Mahmudur Rahman, executive vice president of Robi, said: “We expect that the new pricing could potentially encourage thousands of first-time users to explore the web as a ready source of information.”
“This drop in internet pricing will make access to the internet even more affordable for users.”
In a statement, Banglalink said: “We want to reiterate Banglalink's role as a change maker in the market and make internet connectivity more affordable for everyone.”
“We currently have affordable data plans for our subscribers and a review of the 'P-1' package will further reinforce our commitment in this area.”
It also said the price details will be declared after all the necessary works are completed.
In a statement, Airtel said: “This upcoming reduction of internet tariff will increase availability of internet among the mass and prove to be a revolutionary step forward.”
Taslim Ahmed, head of corporate communications of Citycell, said, “We would like to state that Citycell provides one of the lowest internet tariffs currently in the market. The addition of extra usage, bonus and discounts make our products even more affordable.”
“We would continue to pursue it to make it more affordable in the days to come.”
State-run Teletalk is providing high speed 3G internet service for its customers. Mohd Shamsuzzoha, head of marketing, said his company already provides the cheapest internet rate, which is Tk 1 for 1 MB for 3G users and Tk 2 for 2G users.