Telecom Regulator Seizes Thousands of SIMs in VoIP Crackdown

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has been unable to collect Tk 316 crore in dues from various companies, including Tk 79.64 crore from Teletalk, Tk 50 crore from Bangladesh Cable Shilpa, Tk 12.81 crore from government entities, and Tk 174 crore from defunct companies, falsely reporting it as "current asset" in its financial statements.

The largest mobile operator in Bangladesh, Grameenphone, claimed an increase of 6% in sales to Tk 4,223 crore in Q2 2024, despite a 28 percent decrease in profit to Tk 861 crore. The main reason of the fall in profit was higher tax charges, which overcame lower financing costs and revenue increase.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of Bangladesh discovered that Robi Axiata Limited underpaid Tk365 crore in taxes for 2019 by reporting lower income through unallowable deductions. This discrepancy was found during the audit of the National Board of Revenue's (NBR) large taxpayer unit for the 2020-21 tax year.

Grameenphone has launched Bangladesh's inaugural fixed wireless broadband service, "gpfi," under a unified business license. The service utilizes modern Wi-Fi routers connected wirelessly to Grameenphone towers, offering high-speed internet for homes, offices, and businesses nationwide.

Bangladesh's private mobile operators are aggressively entering the broadband market with fixed wireless access (FWA) services. Grameenphone launched "gpfi unlimited," Banglalink introduced FWA in partnership, and Robi plans a rollout soon. This move aims to tap into Bangladesh's expanding Tk 8,000 crore broadband market, competing with traditional ISPs. Challenges include ensuring stable, high-speed connectivity amid spectrum availability issues. Prices and spectrum deployment will influence adoption, balancing affordability with quality service to meet growing demand for seamless internet access.

During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to China, Billion 10 Communications Limited and EB Solutions Limited signed six agreements, securing a total investment of US$280 million for Bangladesh. These agreements focus on sectors like electric vehicles (EV) and renewable energy, aiming to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.