Internet Service Providers must follow fixed tariff

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will take legal action if any Internet Service Provider (ISP) fails to deliver services at rates fixed by the government, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said on Thursday. 

He said this at the virtual inauguration of the fixing of tariffs and grades of service (GoS) for private International Internet Gateway (IIG) and Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN).

IIGs cannot downgrade the speed for six months for internet service exceeding 10 Gbps. For volumes above 30 Gbps, each purchase order will be valid for a minimum of 12 months. The clients can discontinue the services if the providers fail to maintain the speed.

ISPs will ensure the minimum internet speed limit of 5Mbps fixed by the government. They will publish the service rates on their websites, and alteration to the approved services will not be acceptable, BTRC said.

The fixed prices for internet packages provided by the ISPs will be effective for the next five years from this September. However, the commission can change or amend the tariff considering market demand and users’ interests.

For ISPs and IIGs, if any customer complains, it should be resolved. The complaint and fixed issue have to be stored for at least six months. If the customer complaint reaches BTRC, it will take legal action. 

“Its implementation will help deliver quality services, bring business transparency and help us take action against illegal traders,” the minister said.

Brigadier General Nasim Parvez, System & Services Division, BTRC, formulated and presented the broadband tariff and GoS after holding 37 meetings with the stakeholders.

BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder presided over the function.