Telecommunications experts have urged the government to gradually eliminate the fixed minimum voice call rate in the country, known as the voice floor price. They argue that the existing rate of Tk 0.45 per minute, unchanged since 2018, is impeding digital inclusion and placing an unfair burden on low-income individuals.
The appeal was made during a policy seminar titled “Initiatives for Enhancing User-Friendliness of Mobile Services by the New Government,” organized by the Telecom and ICT Policy Advocacy Platform (TIPAP) and the Voice of Reform at BDBL Bhaban in Karwan Bazar. The event, moderated by TIPAP co-convener Fahim Mashroor, featured a keynote presentation titled “Elimination of Voice Floor Price: Facilitating Digital Advancement in Bangladesh” by Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, former managing director of Robi.
According to Ahmed, who is a telecom consultant, the introduction of the floor price in August 2018 coincided with the initial launch of 4G services when only 18% of the population used the internet, and smartphone ownership stood at approximately 28%. He highlighted the substantial progress since then, with 4G coverage nearly ubiquitous, ongoing 5G trials, and smartphone ownership in households reaching 72.8%. Ahmed emphasized that the rationale for maintaining the voice floor price is no longer valid.
He pointed out that Bangladesh is among the few countries globally that still enforce such a minimum rate, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income users who lack access to free internet-based voice services like WhatsApp or other OTT platforms. Ahmed presented data indicating that the floor price contributes around Tk 387 crore monthly to operators, primarily at the expense of average citizens, particularly those from lower-income brackets who heavily rely on traditional voice calls.
Highlighting fiscal year 2023-24 figures, Mahtab noted that Grameenphone reported an EBITDA of 60%, Robi achieved 51.1%, and Banglalink’s EBITDA was approximately 43-44%. He emphasized that while operators are reaping profits, the citizens are not benefiting from the current scenario.
Ahmed proposed a six-point reform plan, suggesting a phased reduction of the voice floor price from Tk 0.45 to Tk 0.00 by the end of 2026, with quarterly reductions of Tk 0.15. Fahim Mashroor underscored the broader impact of the minimum voice call rate on Bangladesh’s digital economy, emphasizing the need for gradual removal to expand digital inclusion and enhance competitiveness.
Mohammad Farhan Alam, assistant director of the systems and services division at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), supported the call for a cautious and gradual approach, highlighting the absence of a cost review since 2018. Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer at Robi Axiata, recommended conducting a comprehensive cost analysis before phasing out the voice floor price.