Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, announced that internet prices will be reduced across three levels. He called on private mobile operators in the country to also lower their internet prices.
Taiyeb shared this information in a post on his Facebook account Monday morning.
He mentioned that Fiber@Home management has confirmed their decision to lower prices by 10% at the ITC level, another 10% at the IIG level, and 15% at the NTTN level. When contacted by Prothom Alo, Fiber@Home authorities confirmed the decision to reduce prices.
In his post, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb noted that the ISP association had earlier guaranteed the provision of 10 MBPS internet for Tk 500. Additionally, Bangladesh’s submarine cable company had reduced prices by 20%, including 10% for all IIG and ISP customers and another 10% for wholesale customers. These initiatives are part of a phased approach to reduce internet prices at three or four levels.
Taiyeb emphasized that it is now time for the three private mobile operators to announce a reduction in their internet prices. He explained that the government has already provided these mobile companies with Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and dark fiber facilities, leaving no valid excuse for them not to lower their internet prices.
He further stated that the government has given policy support to mobile operators and reduced wholesale internet prices at both the international and national levels through government and private initiatives. Now, he hopes the mobile companies will join the national effort to reduce internet costs, which will help mitigate ongoing inflation.
Taiyeb also mentioned that government-owned Teletalk has already reduced its mobile internet prices by 10% starting from Eid-ul-Fitr.
The government now expects the private mobile operators to soon announce reasonable reductions in their mobile internet prices. The government anticipates two types of price reductions: first, mobile operators should reverse the price hikes in March due to SRO adjustments, as the government has retracted the tax increase, but operators have not yet reduced the extra charges; and second, consumer prices should reflect the reduction in wholesale prices at the International Gateway/ITC, IIG, and National Transmission levels.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb also addressed concerns regarding the quality of mobile internet in Bangladesh, noting that the price is much higher compared to the standard. He assured that the government is committed to taking reasonable steps for the benefit of consumers.
