BTRC cancels licences of 334 ISPs, others
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revoked the licences of 334 internet service providers (ISPs), business process outsourcing (BPO), telecommunication value added services (TVAS) and vehicle tracking services (VTS) mainly for failing to comply with regulatory rules for licence renewal.
4 December 2024, 19:24 PM
BTRC lifts bar on local cache for faster internet
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday repealed a directive it had passed in 2021 restricting small and medium-sized internet service providers (ISPs) from installing cache servers for their network..This policy reversal is expected to enhance internet spee
2 December 2024, 18:43 PM
Bangladesh on track for next IMF loans
Bangladesh is on track to meet all 12 conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to qualify for the fourth tranche of a $4.7 billion loan programme, only missing the revenue collection target.
30 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Tax hike dents mobile subscriber base
The mobile subscriber base in Bangladesh dropped by over 52 lakh between July and September, the first three months of the current fiscal year, as operators slashed subsidised sales of SIM cards due to increased taxes.
28 November 2024, 18:00 PM
How regulatory hurdles keep internet price high and speed low
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has implemented a number of policies over the past 16 years that, according to internet service providers and users, have made Bangladesh pay higher prices for slower internet speeds compared to its neighbours.
21 November 2024, 18:00 PM
What does Moody’s downgrade mean for economy?
Moody’s downgrade of Bangladesh’s economic outlook from stable to negative is expected to have limited immediate impact on the economy, but may affect international trade for banks, leading to higher costs for letters of credit (LCs) and more stringent reviews of private sector credit, experts stated.
19 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Knowledge deficit hinders e-governance progress: report
Bangladesh’s ambitious vision for digital transformation faces challenges from gaps in digital literacy, fragmented systems, and limited connectivity, according to a report.
13 November 2024, 18:00 PM
IT parks drained away hefty funds
The former ICT state minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, had boasted in 2016 that sprawling IT park in Kaliakoir would employ up to a million people over 10 years.
5 November 2024, 18:30 PM
Govt drafts cross-border e-commerce policy
Bangladesh has drafted the Cross-Border Digital Commerce Policy 2024, marking a significant step towards integrating the economy with the global digital marketplace as it looks to facilitate globally accepted payment methods.
4 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Door may open for Starlink, others soon
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has drafted guidelines for satellite internet service operators, permitting wholly owned foreign companies to obtain licences -- paving the way for Elon Musk’s Starlink and similar companies to enter Bangladesh.
29 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Number of mobile internet users dropped in August
The number of mobile internet subscribers in Bangladesh dropped by nearly one crore to 12.69 crore in August, marking the second consecutive month of decline..Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer at Robi, said customers have been discontinuing the use of secondary SIMs ever
27 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Mobile subscriber numbers fell drastically in August
Following the trend of July, the number of mobile subscribers in Bangladesh dropped significantly in August..The mobile network operators -- Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink and Teletalk -- collectively lost about 18 lakh customers, taking the total mobile subscriber base to 19.24 crore..
26 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Innovation was his driving force
To lead a business to new heights, you need a deep-rooted philosophy of innovation and a willingness to face unforeseen challenges: This may sound like an adage, but it best describes business tycoon Sk. Bashir Uddin.
26 October 2024, 18:00 PM
TV channels up in arms over govt’s TRP system
On August 5 and 6, several TV channels including ATN News, Asian TV and Bijoy TV went off air as an angry mob vandalised its broadcasting centres.
26 October 2024, 01:43 AM
BTRC fines top three mobile operators Tk 15 lakh
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to impose a fine of Tk 15 lakh on Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink for breaching industry regulations.
19 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Telcos’ service falls short of BTRC standard
Mobile operators performed poorly in the telecom regulator’s latest drive test to assess service quality, reinforcing users’ claims of experiencing substandard service.
2 October 2024, 18:47 PM
Expanding into glass production was a logical step
To meet the rising demand for basic and high-quality glass in Bangladesh’s construction sector, AkijBashir Group recently began production at a sprawling plant in Habiganj’s Madhabpur upazila, placing emphasis on more transparent and pure products to position itself as a key player in the rapidly growing market.
30 September 2024, 18:00 PM
BTRC’s independence eroded over the years
Restoring the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC’s) independence by reverting to the original legal framework should be a priority for reform, according to its new chairman Major General (retd) Emdad Ul Bari.
19 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Banglalink’s tower sales: BTRC’s negligence deprives state coffers of Tk 69 crore
The state coffer has been deprived of Tk 69 crore for the telecom regulator’s failure to collect the 5.5 percent of the sales price of Summit Tower’s acquisition of Banglalink’s 2,000 mobile towers.
19 September 2024, 01:15 AM
Bangabandhu-1 satellite: Another white elephant
The Bangabandhu-1 satellite, one of the marquee projects of the Awami League government, has turned into a financial black hole, costing the state coffer upwards of Tk 1,500 crore.
15 September 2024, 01:30 AM