Desk report: The country’s mobile phone operators have been directed to reduce the price of seven-day internet data package prices by November 10, according to Posts and Telecommunications Ministry insiders.

The development came after customers complained over increased prices for the new seven-day internet packages. On October 15, operators discontinued the previous three-day validity internet packages and introduced the new, more expensive seven-day packages.

Mobile operators made the changes to comply with the the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) instructions to discontinue the three- and 15-day internet packages. Mobile operators maintain that discontinuing the popular three-day package may affect low-income individuals, including students.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar made known the direction to reduce prices by November 10 after a meeting with top executives of mobile operators recently.

According to BTRC officials, they are working on fixing the same rates for internet packages from all operators. The maximum and minimum prices will be set after collecting and analysing relevant data.

Leaders of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) have demanded the reinstatement of three-day internet data packages.

Currently, only seven-day, 30-day, and unlimited packages are available, when around 70% of users prefer to use the three-day packages, they said.

According to operator sources, Grameenphone’s 1GB 3-day internet package was priced at Tk 46. The new seven-day package costs Tk69 to account for the longer validity. Banglalink and Robi Axiata’s seven-day packages cost Tk68 and Tk69, respectively, while their three-day packages used to cost Tk42 and Tk 48.

On the other hand, the price of a 1 GB internet package of state-owned operator Teletalk for a validity period of 7 days was Tk27, but now it has increased by Tk 19 to Tk 46.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said operators were told to offer seven-day data packages for the price of three days.

“They have been asked to reduce the 7 days’ internet package at the price of the previous three-day packages. This must be implemented by November 10,” he said.