BTRC public hearing: Consumers question justification of time-bound data sale

Participating in the public hearing on 'telecommunication services' organized by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), a wide range of consumers raised questions over the quality of various mobile operators’ services including call-drop and the justification of time-bound data sale.

The hearing was attended by numerous consumers, who took part in the event in person or through online platform Zoom, organized at BTRC Bhaban at Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday morning.

Presided over by Public Hearing Committee President and BTRC Chairman Engineer Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, the hearing was also attended by State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak as the chief guest.

In the public hearing, the customers pointed out the problems faced by them in getting the telecommunication services and the officials of the respective departments of the commission answered all the questions one by one.

Some 3,025 people registered to participate in the public hearing, which is four times more than the number of people attending the public hearing in 2022. In addition to the registered consumers, other unregistered consumers also graced the public hearing, presenting their queries regarding telecommunication services.

In the public hearing held in the presence of high-ranking officials of various government agencies, mobile operators, representatives of telecommunication service providers licensed by BTRC, consumers from different parts of the country, in person and online, raised questions over the quality of service of mobile operators.

Expressing annoyance over the issues of call drop and prices of various packages (voice, data bundle), they raised questions over the justification of time-bound data sale. The consumers also raised issues related to complaints over internet service, increasing internet speed in remote areas, mobile number portability, and cyber-crime.

At the public hearing, Junaid Ahmed Palak said, “The BTRC has an outstanding role in increasing digital connectivity, reaching internet services at affordable prices across the country, revenue collection, employment generation and technology industry development. Modern and future-oriented telecommunication legislation is being formulated keeping in mind the present needs and future requirements.

The state minister said the scope and responsibilities of BTRC will be determined as per the latest amendment of Telecommunication Act-2010. He urged the BTRC to take initiatives to ensure that the waves allocated for the 5G network are used for upgrading the 4G services.

BTRC Chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed said, “All activities of BTRC are conducted to ensure quality service to the people. Constructive suggestions received through public hearings play an important role in future decisions and activities in terms of service quality improvement.”

Regarding tower installation, the BTRC chairman said BTRC has introduced tower sharing to reduce the number of tower installations. As a result, all operators can provide services from one tower. BTRC measures tower radiation in various cities and upazilas across the country and the results are published on BTRC's website.

Stating that the country's radiation levels are below international standards, he said there is nothing to worry about radiation.

He informed that the next public hearing of the commission will be held in Rajshahi Division.

BTRC Vice-Chairman Md Aminul Haque thanked the participants in his welcome speech at the public hearing and said that the current government has taken the initiative to build a modern, advanced and smart Bangladesh which will be based on new ultra-modern technology.

Mentioning telecommunication as a potential sector, he said that many issues can be settled by organising public hearing every year, because such public hearing increases the transparency and accountability of the work of any organization.

Director General (Systems and Services Department) of BTRC Brigadier General Mohammad Khalil-ur-Rahman said, “As of March 2024, the number of mobile SIM connections in the country is 19.22 crore, the number of internet subscribers is 13.47 crore, the mobile density is 108.41% and the internet density is 75.74%. Until March 2024, the bandwidth and data usage is 5,912 Gbps. Currently, 99 percent of mobile handsets in the country are manufactured locally, of which the smartphone penetration is more than 60 percent.

Nahian, a businessman from Dhanmondi, complained of not getting mobile network connection during the public hearing. In response, Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, director general of the engineering and operations department of the commission, said that the network coverage cannot easily enter the areas where there are multi-storey infrastructures. “Even though the operators want to set up new sites, not enough sites are being set up due to people not allowing the construction of new sites in different areas,” he added.

Munsi Amanur Rahman, another businessman from Khilgaon, complained that he could not get the preferred broadband connection due to the muscle power of locals.

In response, Brigadier General Kazi Mustafizur Rahman said that BTRC conducts operations against illegal internet service providers when it receives complaints.

A student from Dhaka named Aminul Islam said that despite the allocation of airwaves, the operators are not rolling out on time, so the customers are being deprived of quality services.

In this regard, Brigadier General Mohammad Moniruzzaman Jewel, Director General of BTRC’s Spectrum Department, said that the operators have been given certain targets for wave rollout on time, which if implemented will increase the quality of the mobile network.

Imran Hossain, participating in the public hearing from Jhenaidah, opined about introducing the facility of receiving all telecommunication services through agent points including changing the ownership of SIMs in remote areas and MNP.

Brigadier General Mohammad Khalil-ur-Rahman, Director General of Systems and Services Department, said that the change of SIM ownership and verification of some important information is required for MNP. As it is not possible through agent points, he assured to take measures to bring all services related to mobile operators online in future.

Russell, a resident of Keraniganj, wanted to know whether all the unregistered phones that are currently in use will be closed or not.

In this regard, Commissioner of the BTRC’s spectrum department Sheikh Riaz Ahmed said all mobile handsets operating in the network are being registered automatically. So, for now no mobile handset will be shut down.

Commissioner of BTRC’s Finance, Accounts and Revenue Department Dr Mushfique Mannan Chowdhury, Systems and Services Commissioner Md Delwar Hossain, Administration Department Director General Abdullah Al Mamun, Legal and Licensing Department Director General Ashish Kumar Kundu, and Secretary to BTRC Md Nurul Hafiz, among others, also participated in the public hearing.