Govt urged to make mobile internet cheaper

The Centre for Policy Dialogue on Thursday urged the government to withdraw the existing surcharge and supplementary duty on the usage of mobile internet to make it affordable for all.

Currently, mobile internet users pay a 15 per cent supplementary duty and 1 per cent surcharge as stipulated by the current budget for the fiscal year 2020-21.

The local think-tank made the recommendations to reduce surcharge on mobile phone internet at a virtual dialogue titled ‘CPD’s Recommendations for the National Budget FY2021-22.’

“For education and business purposes, the necessity and usage of mobile internet-based services have increased substantially in the backdrop of the pandemic,” said Towfiqul Islam Khan, Senior Research Fellow, CPD in his keynote presentation.

In view of this, the government should withdraw the existing 15 per cent supplementary duty, and the 1 per cent surcharge levied on mobile internet while keeping the prevailing rate of VAT at 5 per cent unchanged, he added.
As of now, the internet has become an integral part of everyday lives as people have to join the office from home and do other emergency tasks online.
The government should withdraw the surcharge and supplementary duty to make it affordable, said Islam.