Mahmudul Hasan

The government plans to abolish the tax benefits for various sectors to accelerate revenue collections in line with targets set by the IMF as part of its $4.7 billion loan.

In a recent internal meeting, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) approved the formulation of the committee comprising officials of its different divisions to prepare the guideline for internet services through non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) satellites.

Less than half of the companies in Bangladesh use computers, according to a World Bank’s survey that revealed the country’s weak position in digital adoption for business compared to peer economies and neighboring nations.

The country’s leading telecom policy expert Abu Saeed Khan died at the Combined Military Hospital in the capital yesterday morning after a battle with cancer.

Bangladeshi internet users are experiencing disruptions after the country’s second submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE 5, the largest supplier of international bandwidth to Bangladesh, broke Friday night.

It will take at least 2 to 3 days to resume the connection

The decision to carry out the audits comes although the claims of the first audits into the operators haven’t been settled yet.

Telecom operators and experts in Bangladesh yesterday demanded restructuring taxation in the sector, arguing that the rates in place are not only limiting the sector’s growth, but also potentially hindering the implementation of “Smart Bangladesh”.

Telenor, the parent company of leading mobile phone operator Grameenphone, has a long-term commitment to the Bangladesh market.

With tax exemptions for the information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services sector ending after this fiscal year, ICT entrepreneurs are demanding the continuation of such incentives for seven more years to help build a ‘Smart Bangladesh’.

Mobile network operators -- Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink and Teletalk -- collectively added about 9.2 lakh customers during the month, taking the total mobile subscriber base to 191.3 crore.

The newly drafted telecom law and broadband policy ignored the broadband internet sector, said the top leader of the last mile cable operators, demanding more attention to the sector which caters to six crore customers.

The percentage of individuals aged over 15 who own a mobile phone was lower in 2023 than in 2020 as the decline in ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic persisted due to grim economic conditions.

Some customers of Teletalk will be able to use Banglalink’s network from today as part of a ‘pre-commercial launch’ of national roaming services, bringing relief to subscribers of the state-run operator whose network is hamstrung by weak power backup.

The new act will replace the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001.

A significant portion of Teletalk's mobile network towers lacks adequate battery backup systems, exacerbating customer frustrations with its unreliable service and contributing to a steady decline in its subscriber base.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) releases ICT Development Index 2023

Bangladesh needs to increase smartphone penetration among its mobile phone users as a prerequisite for the introduction of 5G technology, said Yasir Azman, chief executive officer of Grameenphone.

The telecom regulator is awarding cellular mobile service operator licences to mobile network operators, unifying the existing licences and setting the groundwork for the launch of 5G technology in the country.

Telecom operator Robi Axiata has launched Bangladesh’s first commercial Tier-IV data centre in a move to expand its portfolio and cater to the increasing need for data storage driven by surging internet usage amid digitalisation of services.