Grameenphone users have experienced the most number of dropped calls in the last 13 months, a staggering 1.03 billion times, according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The leading mobile operator has been consistently on top of the dropped calls list since September 2017, according to figures released by the telecom regulator.

Robi users have had their calls dropped 761.8 million times while Banglalink calls were dropped 365.4 million times and state-owned Teletalk call drop figure was at approximately 60 million.

In 2016, the BTRC ordered phone operators to give 1 minute back for each dropped call to subscribers.

Since September 2017, GP returned 103 million minutes, Robi 68.2 million and Banglalink 49.4 minutes to their subscribers, according to BTRC statistics.

On Monday, the regulator wrote to operators over dropped calls a day after a senior ruling party leader raised the issue in Parliament.

Operators have been told to respond within five days detailing their measures over the increased dropped calls.

On Sunday, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed grew testy over the matter while speaking in the House.

“This can’t go on ... Four to five calls have to be made for a single conversation,” he said before urging the telecoms minister to open initiatives.

Nagging call drops have been an issue for mobile phone users for the last few years, which have increased after 4G was rolled out in February.

Mobile phone operators, however, say the rate of dropped calls is below two percent, which is in line with the standards set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).