Govt reduces MNP service charge to Tk57.50

The government has reduced the cost of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service that enables customers to switch to different operators without changing their existing mobile phone numbers—from Tk 157.50 to Tk 57.50.

After its initial launch on October 1, the charge for the MNP service was a total of Tk157.50—including a Tk100 SIM Tax, Tk50 service charge, and 15 percent VAT.

The reduction comes with the government’s decision to decrease the Tk100 SIM Tax—reducing the total cost to only Tk57.50, reports UNB. 

Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar confirmed the news on Wednesday.

“The Finance Ministry approved a proposal to reduce the SIM Tax which was earlier sent by the Posts, Telecommunications and IT Ministry; and the official announcement about the cost reduction will be made within three or four days,” he said.

“Though the MNP service has been launched, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate  it from Ganabhaban on October 21 around 10 am,” he added.

The minister also said: “Already, the service has triggered great enthusiasm among the people. Additionally, it will inevitably ensure the quality of services provided by mobile phone operators—otherwise they would lose their customers.” 

The ministry has recently approved a Quality of Service (QOS) policy and directed BTRC to monitor and send letters to the mobile operators regarding the matter.

The QOS will monitor different operators’: network speed, voice call quality, call drops, etc.

Within five days of launching the service,  10,122 requests were received to switch operators. Of these, 4,182 requests have successfully been completed. 

A total of: 1,834 customers switched from Grameenphone (GP), 972 from Robi, 130 from Teletalk, and 1276 from Banglalink to other networks.Meanwhile: GP received 682 clients, Robi 2,341, Banglalink 1,089, and Teletalk 89.

Bangladesh is the 72^nd country in the world to introduce this service.

Infozillion Teletech BD Limited, a joint venture between a Bangladeshi firm and a Slovenian firm, which received the license for the service, arranged the launch.