How to change Mobile Operator in Bangladesh

The much awaited MNP mobile number portability service has been started in Bangladesh. Mobile phone users in the country can now change to any SIM or operator switching their existing 11-digit mobile phone number. Customers will be able to switch to his desired operator without changing the numbers. At present, Grameenphone, Robi & Airtel, Banglalink, Teletalk are the mobile phone operator in the country.

Singapore is pioneered the service in 1997, India began MNP services in 2011 and Pakistan launched it in 2007. As a 72^nd country Bangladesh has launch this service on 1^st October, 2018. Bangladesh is a competitive market for all the Telecom service providers. The service is expected to improve the quality of telecom service as competition among operators will increase to ensure satisfaction and retain customers.

BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) first took the initiative in 2009 to start this service and it was discussed by the parliamentary standing committee several times. The recent launch of the MNP service will bring an end to the telecom regulator's decade-long efforts. The mobile number portability service has been launched on October 1 as trial basis. Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar said, the service will be launched officially later following feedback from customers on the test run.

Process and Charges of change SIM:

• Customer will be charged BDT 50 including 15% VAT (value added tax) to change the provider
• Another BDT 100 has to be paid within 24 hours after the application
• The phone users will be charged a total of BDT 158, including a charge and the SIM replacement tax
• The application process will take a maximum of five minutes and it will take around 72 hours to get the final confirmation
• Customers need to visit customer care center to complete the process
• Customer can’t switch to another operator within 90 days of the change

On the launching of the MNP service Md Jahirul Haque, acting chairman of BTRC - Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said, “Mobile phone operators will feel the pressure and definitely they will concentrate on improving quality to retain existing customers and attract customers from other operators”. The MNP will change the telecom market dynamics for better within a few months.

The vice president of Robi Axiata Limited Ekram Kabir said, “We have begun to provide MNP service to the people” and he already thanked all the customers who have already chosen Robi and Airtel on the very first day of the MNP service in BD.

In June 2013, BTRC asked all the mobile operators in Bangladesh to introduce the MNP service in Bangladesh. In 2016 BTRC decided to appoint a third party to offer the service and awarded the license to Infozillion in November 2017. In 2018 the 1^st May was set launch the SIM changing service but the date was deferred twice as the operators were not ready. Infozillion BD Teletech, a joint venture between a Bangladeshi firm and a Slovenian firm.

All the operators in the country, small or big, now have equal chances in the business and it will also ensure a level-playing field for all of them.

Among the 15 Crore mobile users of the Bangladeshi population only one-two percent are aware of the services they are availing. Seventeen people have changed operators since the start of the service on the first day.

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