BTRC lowers minimum broadband bill to Tk400
The telecom regulator has already communicated its new tariff, initially set for the next five years, with the industry players
In a bid to ensure quality internet at cheaper prices, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has lowered the minimum monthly charge for broadband internet to Tk400 from Tk500.
The new tariff for the minimum 5 Mbps connections will be applicable from 1 July. Tariffs for 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps connections have also been reduced by Tk100 to Tk700 and Tk1,100 respectively.
The telecom regulator has already communicated its new tariff, initially set for the next five years, with the industry players.
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However, users are already enjoying a better speed for the last one month after the industry agreed to double broadband internet speed in the shared connections for residential users.
The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) President Aminul Hakim told The Business Standard, "ISPs have already been providing 10 Mbps shared connections at Tk500 for the last one month and the new tariff will reduce the price to Tk400."
Under existing BTRC regulations, introduced in 2021, ISPs are allowed to share a certain amount of bandwidth among up to eight users.
Aminul explained that this is the highest limit of sharing bandwidth, which is technically called contention ratio. However, in practice, the industry reduces this ratio to 1:2 for home users during office hours, increasing it later in the day when most users are at home, he added.
Poor speed and speed volatility is a common complaint from internet users, which the government and the regulator are addressing strongly.
"Speed volatility is usually due to technical issues and is resolved quickly by providers with backup capacity," said Hakim. He expressed optimism that services would improve further as network infrastructure and licensing systems continue to simplify.
The BTRC, in its 18 May letter to the ISPs, compelled them to ensure the quality of services.
To hold providers accountable, the commission has mandated that users can pay only half their bill if service remains disconnected for five consecutive days. For 10 days without internet, users will pay just 25% of the bill, and a 15-day disconnection will result in no charges at all.
According to ISPAB data, there are currently around 1.4 crore broadband connections in the country, with 65% being shared residential connections.
