DHAKA: Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory council (BTRC) has launched the much awaited mobile number portability (MNP) service for the first time in Bangladesh.  

MNP service or in other words it means customers can now switch to any operator without changing their existing 11-digit mobile phone number. 

BTRC Chairman Jahurul Haque made the declaration of its launch at a press conference held at BRTC building located in city’s Ramna area at 11 am on Monday (Sept 1).  

He said, “17 customers have taken this service so far since its launch on October 1. To initiate BNP service, a customer has to pay Tk 157 for new SIM of their desired operator and MNP charge.”

To avail this service,  a customer now needs to go to a Customer Service Centre of their operators and take new a SIM giving back the old one. The fee for new the SIM has been fixed at Tk 100, MNP charge at Tk 55, and VAT at Tk 2.50 paisa.

According to the previous guidelines, customers will have to wait at least 90 days to make another switch, if the service is started within 72 hours of application.

Infozillion BD Teletech, the authorized company for a joint venture between a Bangladeshi firm and a Slovenian firm, completed all preparations for the launch.

Mabrur Hossain, managing director of Infozillion, was present at the news conference along with BRTC senior officials.

BDST: 1413 HRS, OCT 1, 2018

AH