Telecom Regulator Seizes Thousands of SIMs in VoIP Crackdown

Bangladesh ranks lowest among 12 surveyed low- and middle-income countries in smartphone ownership and mobile internet usage, according to the GSMA's State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024 report. Smartphone ownership stands at 41% in urban areas and 26% in rural regions, with mobile internet usage slightly higher at 43% and 27%, respectively.

Bangladesh’s mobile subscriber base dropped by over 52 lakh between July and September 2024, following a 50% hike in value-added tax (VAT) on SIM cards in this fiscal year's budget, raising the tax from Tk 200 to Tk 300. Mobile operators cited this as the primary reason for the largest single-quarter decline in recent years, with 36 lakh subscribers lost in July and August and 16.3 lakh in September.

Teletalk Bangladesh Limited, the state-owned mobile operator, has introduced a trial online SIM service as part of a commercial pilot program, starting on November 27. Initially available in 11 post offices across Rajshahi, Naogaon, and Chapainawabganj districts, the service integrates SIM distribution with the Bangladesh Postal Department’s extensive network.

On November 26, 2024, BRAC Bank and Robi Axiata Limited announced a strategic partnership to enhance financial operations with comprehensive cash management services. The collaboration allows Robi to benefit from BRAC Bank’s advanced transaction banking solutions, including streamlined collection, payment, and liquidity management.

Banglalink has won the prestigious 'Project Management Awards 2024' from the Project Management Institute (PMI) Bangladesh for its 'Cumilla DC DR Project.' The project excelled in three categories: Project of the Year, Project Manager of the Year, and runner-up Program Management Office (PMO) of the Year.