BTRC mulls over SMS rate cut

The telecom regulator is mulling bringing down the upper ceiling of SMS (short message service) rate to Tk 0.25 from the existing Tk 0.50.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) would set the price limit after reviewing the previous pricing guidelines, sources said.
"We will make a decision on the SMS rate within the next month," said an official at the BTRC.
In 2016, the telecom regulator had set the upper price limit for SMS at Tk 0.50 for the last time.
On June 19 this year, the regulator directed all the mobile phone operators to reduce the rate of each local SMS written in Bangla to Tk 0.25, aiming to promote the mother language. And the new rate for Bangla SMS has come into effect the next day.
Officials at the BTRC said they have instructed the mobile operators regarding the rate of Bangla SMS as the telecoms minister seeks to promote Bangla language in the telecoms sector.
A BTRC official said they have also asked the mobile operators to submit reports on the new rate for Bangla SMS.
"We will decide on the new upper limit for SMS after receiving reports from the operators," he added.

[email protected]