Mobile telecom network expanded significantly in the outgoing year 2023 as well as leapfrogged to transforming from mere mobile network operators (MNOs) to telco-tech or digital service provider in comparison to the previous year.
Despite the challenging macro-economic situation, currency devaluation, and price hikes, MNOs invested extensively for improving services to graduate from cellular services, according to the industry insiders.
The MNOs are quite unhappy about the reshuffle of the data packages, especially removing 3-day package from the list in 2023 which was a major apple of discord and implemented following a long tussle while the then Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar recognised the episode as his one of the best achievements during his time in six years.
The industry as a whole added nearly 10 million mobile subscribers in the year while internet subscribers were more than 5 million during the period. On the other hand, operators experienced negative growth in 2022 in terms of both mobile subscribers and internet subscribers.
The second and third largest private sector MNOs- Robi Axiata and Banglalink outperformed the largest mobile operator Grameenphone in terms of gaining mobile subscribers.
Leading the way, Robi Axiata has gained 4.4 million mobile subscribers from November 2022 to November 2023 while Banglalink bagged 3.92 million in the same period placing itself as second.
The largest mobile operator Grameenphone with having 82 million subscribers obtained around 1.8 million subscribers while state-owned MNO Teletalk lost around 2,70,000 subscribers in the period.
"Against the backdrop of intense market competition in the mobile telecommunication sector, Robi Axiata Ltd. has gained significant market share in 2023-establishing the company as one the of the highest growing telco brands in Asia," Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer, Robi Axiata Ltd.
The company achieved the milestone of 55 million-customer base completing the year having 58.3 million customers.
However, Mr Alam said intervention to fix the validity of data packs affected the pricing of data as well as limiting the choice of customers.
"In implementing the Smart Bangladesh vision, we would expect consistency in the policy and certainty in the taxation regime," he said.
He expressed hope that the government would pay required attention for making the overall regulatory regime and ecosystem of the telecommunication industry more sustainable in the upcoming year (2024).
Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer, Banglalink, said 2023 marked a transformative year for Banglalink driven by consecutive double-digit growth.
"We strengthened our commitment to customers by doubling our network footprint across Bangladesh, now serving over 20 million data subscribers among our 43 million customers who trust and rely on our innovative digital services for their daily needs," he said.
He said major contributor to this robust growth is the development of the country's pioneering telco super App - MyBL, and the premier digital entertainment platform, Toffee.
"As we look ahead, we anticipate consistent growth driven by the expansion of our innovative digital portfolio, meeting the needs of our valued customers, supported by the continued collaboration with the regulator and the government of Bangladesh," he said.
"We are excited to continue spearheading the country's digital transformation," he added.
Yasir Azman, CEO, Grameenphone, said, "In 2023, Grameenphone underwent significant transformations, continuing relentless journey from a telecom to become a Telco-Tech."
Despite global challenges, he said they executed strategic plans effectively, strengthening their position with the help of the regulator.
He said Grameenphone is in a stronger position than ever before, poised to embrace the future and its possibilities.
"Despite the challenging macro-economic situation, currency devaluation, and price hikes, we focused on improving our operational efficiency, so that we can offer our services at affordable prices and keep introducing innovative solutions to make our customers life easier, healthier, safer, and happier," he said.
"We're committed to empowering societies through technology and building a smart, digitally inclusive, and sustainable Bangladesh," he added.
Former Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar, who resigned at the end of November, said he tried his best to implement Digital Bangladesh and initiate Smart Bangladesh in his term.
He recognised reshuffling of data packages and shutting some of the packages including 3-day and 7-day packages as one of his best achievements.
However, he regretted for not rolling out 5G in his time as he promised earlier to commence the commercial services of 5G by December 2023.
He said it was not possible as the industry and total ecosystem are not ready for the service as of yet.
He also felt sorry that he couldn't implement unified mobile internet rate similar to unified broadband data prices.
Meanwhile, though the telecom sector progressed significantly, the country's earnings from software industry hovered around US$1 billion mark despite the ambitious $5 billion target while e-commerce and startups failed to add new momentum.
Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) had targeted to add 4.0 million more users in the outgoing year, but it achieved 50 per cent target due to high cost of optical termination unit (OUT).
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