The government plans to introduce a uniform call rate for mobile phones before launching mobile number portability or MNP services. A proposal for Tk 0.40 per minute has been forwarded to the finance ministry. Sources at the telecoms ministry say, the uniform rate may come in effect from as soon as Aug 1.
Mobile phone operators now charge between Tk 0.30 and Tk 0.39 per minute for on-net (same network) calls and Tk 0.91 to Tk 1.40 for off-net (other networks) calls.
“A proposal for uniform call rate of Tk 0.40 is with the finance ministry. Let’s see what can be done when it’s forwarded to us,” Telecoms Minister Mustafa Jabbar told Bangla Tribune.
The finance ministry will make the call on whether a Tk 0.40 uniform rate will be fixed or a floor or ceiling will be set, he added.
Meanwhile, operators Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink have already started testing of MNP service. But the whole processing of launching the service has hit snags as it’s yet to be decided how state-owned operator Teletalk and PSTNs (public switched telephone networks) will be included in the system.
Minister Jabbar, however, seemed confident over Teletalk’s inclusion in MNP services. “I don’t see any reason why they will not be included. And I have spoken with BTCL (state-owned PSTN), they also seemed cooperative,” he said.
However, a hitch still remains over routing calls coming from abroad. According to industry insiders, IGWs (international gateways) and ICXs (interconnection exchanges) need to go through technical development to rout international calls after MNP is launched.
The ICXs made it clear that they won’t go for it and wants mobile operators to update their technologies.
The government apparently has sided with ICXs and IGWs. “We want the mobile operators to rout international calls to the users,” the minister said.
On Tuesday, the BTRC held a meeting, attended by at least 60 concerned officials, on technical aspects of MNP services.
Sources confirmed Bangla Tribune that representatives from three mobile operators told the meeting that they were fully prepared.
But Infozillion BD Teletech, which secured the license to offer the services, as well as Teletalk and the PSTNs were yet to get on board.
A top official of a mobile operator, asking not to be named, said that MNP without a uniform call rate will create complexities, especially bill shocks for users given the existing on-net and off net charges.
MNP will allow users to switch service providers without changing their existing number, which telecoms pundits believe will force operators to improve services.
Users can switch operators within 72 hours of charging Tk 30, but will have to wait for 90 days to change again.
In November last year, the BTRC awarded Bangladesh-Slovenia joint venture, Infozillion BD Teletech the licence to offer MNP services. The telecoms regulators had then said the services ould be launched within six months, which ended this May.
According to the latest figures by the BTRC, the number of mobile subscribers was a little over 150 million by the end of May this year.
Grameenphone tops the chart boasting 68.6 million subscribers with the Robi commanding 45.02 million subscribers.
Banglalink is a distant third with 33.34 million subscribers while state-owned operator Teletalk is struggling with 3.76 million subscribers.