Bangladesh, being 72nd country in the world, has launched its mobile number portability (MNP) service, enabling customers to switch to any operator without mobile phone numbers.
Jahurul Haque, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC), said the service went into operation at 12 midnight on Monday.
He said it will take Tk 50 as well as a 15 per cent value-added tax (VAT) to change carriers within 72 hours. Besides, customers will have to pay another amount of Tk 100.
That means it will take a total of Tk 157.50 to change a operator, said the BTRC acting chief, adding that there will be increased competition among the mobile phone operators following the service.
Infozillion BD Teletech, a joint venture between a Bangladeshi firm and a Slovenian firm, which received the licence of the service, completed the preparations for the launch, UNB reported.
Mabroor Hossain, managing director of Infozillion BD Teletech, said 20 customers have already availed of the service in the morning while more than 100 customers applied for to do so.
