High tax, low spectrum are barriers to high-speed Internet: Robi | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
May 21, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025
High tax, low spectrum are barriers to high-speed Internet: Robi

Telecom

TBS Report
28 July, 2021, 11:00 pm
Last modified: 29 July, 2021, 11:44 am

Related News

  • NoC is mandatory in installing Starlink connections: Taiyeb
  • Starlink in Bangladesh: All residential, roaming packages, prices and how to get them
  • Starlink now in Bangladesh: Package starts from Tk4,200 per month
  • New telecom licensing regime in June 
  • Robi sees 17.6% rise in Q1 profit, despite revenue drop

High tax, low spectrum are barriers to high-speed Internet: Robi

The telecom operator questions the authenticity of Ookla Speedtest report

TBS Report
28 July, 2021, 11:00 pm
Last modified: 29 July, 2021, 11:44 am
High tax, low spectrum are barriers to high-speed Internet: Robi

There is no scope for providing better speed and Internet services, due to high tax and low spectrum, said Bangladesh's second largest mobile network operator Robi Axiata Ltd.

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Robi, made the remark at a press conference on Wednesday in the wake of Bangladesh's ranking as 135th out of 137 countries by Ookla Speedtest in terms of mobile internet speed. 

The country is only ahead of Afghanistan and Venezuela, according to the June report of Ookla that provides analyses of Internet access performance metrics. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"We [mobile network operators] always try to improve the service quality. As part of that endeavour, we have already procured all the designated spectrum for 3G and 4G services," said Mahtab.

At the virtual programme, Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer for Robi, said  spectrum limitation was one of the barriers to better Internet speed.

Robi had procured additional spectrum at the last auction, he said, adding that users would experience better Internet speed once the new spectrum was brought into effect. 

Lack of fibre optic connectivity is another reason for slow Internet speed, he said. Only 20% of Robi's sites are fibre-connected and Internet services are disrupted if the overhead optical lines are cut off by other utility service providers.   

Shahed Alam also questioned the authenticity of the Ookla report, saying, "Such reports are mostly paid for [by interested parties] and do not represent the exact picture. They collect data from third parties since we do not share our data with them." 

'Getting back unused data may cost more'  

Journalists at the programme asked the Robi CEO whether it was justified taking back unused Internet data from customers when the data packs expired.

The CEO said it was a business model and was being practiced globally.

"Once a user buys a 7-day package, it means he or she will have to use it within the seven-day time frame. For example, when a traveller buys a ticket on an offer in advance, he cannot get back the money if he does not travel," he said.

Robi's chief corporate and regulatory officer said, "If the users want back the expired data, it may cost more since every flexibility has a price."

At the press conference, Robi officials said the company's consolidated net profits stood at Tk46.63 crore, and earnings per share at Tk0.09 in the April-June quarter, which was Tk58.37 crore and Tk0.12 respectively in the corresponding period last year.

During this second quarter, Robi's consolidated revenue increased by 15% to Tk2,030 crore relative to the same period last year.

Its subscriber base grew 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year, while its market share reached 29.4% at the end of June.

Bangladesh / Top News

Internet / Robi / Telecom

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Infograph: TBS
    How Renata's Tk1,000cr investment plan became a Tk1,400cr problem
  • A file photo of the NBR Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka
    Bangladesh moves to scrap import taxes on 100 items to boost trade with US
  • Govt to cut property registration tax by 40%, align deed value with market rates
    Govt to cut property registration tax by 40%, align deed value with market rates

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: TBS
    Who should run Bangladesh's busiest container terminal?
  • Demra Police Station officials with singer Mainul Ahsan Noble following his arrest from Dhaka's Demra area in the early hours of 20 May 2025. Photo: DMP
    Singer Noble arrested, sent to jail after woman allegedly confined, raped by him for 7 months rescued
  • Saleh Uddin Ahmed. Sketch: TBS
    Large depositors in troubled banks to be offered shares, bonds: Salehuddin
  • Photo shows actress Nusraat Faria produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on Monday, 19 May 2025. File Photo: Focus Bangla
    Nusraat Faria gets bail
  • Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology speaks at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday, 20 May 2025. Photo: PID
    NoC is mandatory in installing Starlink connections: Taiyeb
  • Starlink could bring revolutionary changes to Bangladesh’s education, healthcare, business, and disaster management sectors. Photo: Collected
    Starlink now in Bangladesh: Package starts from Tk4,200 per month

Related News

  • NoC is mandatory in installing Starlink connections: Taiyeb
  • Starlink in Bangladesh: All residential, roaming packages, prices and how to get them
  • Starlink now in Bangladesh: Package starts from Tk4,200 per month
  • New telecom licensing regime in June 
  • Robi sees 17.6% rise in Q1 profit, despite revenue drop

Features

Football presenter Gary Lineker walks outside his home, after resigning from the BBC after 25 years of presenting Match of the Day, in London, Britain. Photo: Reuters

Gary Lineker’s fallout once again exposes Western media’s selective moral compass on Palestine

10h | Features
Fired by US aid cuts, driven by courage: A female driver steering through uncertainty

Fired by US aid cuts, driven by courage: A female driver steering through uncertainty

17h | Features
Photo: TBS

How Shahbagh became the focal point of protests — and public suffering

1d | Panorama
PHOTO: Collected

Helmet Hunt: Top 5 half-face helmets that meet international safety standards

2d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Western world warns Israel over aid blockade and military operation

Western world warns Israel over aid blockade and military operation

10h | TBS World
Atrai dam breaks for the second time within 4 months

Atrai dam breaks for the second time within 4 months

10h | TBS Today
How is China the 'winner' of the India-Pakistan conflict?

How is China the 'winner' of the India-Pakistan conflict?

12h | Others
Why ADP implementation rate lowest in education and health sectors?

Why ADP implementation rate lowest in education and health sectors?

12h | Podcast
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net