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No end to loss of unused data


Published : 10 Sep 2021 09:27 PM | Updated : 11 Sep 2021 12:15 AM

Despite repeated directions from the authorities concerned, subscribers of different mobile operators are not getting back their unused data following expiration. 

However, mobile phone operators claim that they are returning data on certain conditions. 

Jahid, a private service holder, while talking to this correspondent, said, “I usually buy a 1GB Robi internet pack at Tk 35 for three days. Most of the time, I could not use all the megabytes and sometimes my package also expires. But when I purchase the same package again, I never get any unused megabytes back.” 

Similar experience shared by another, Naznin, a Dhaka University student, said, “I use teletalk, I usually purchase a 1GB internet pack for seven days. As usual, I cannot utilize 100 percent of my data pack. If my data pack expires, I never get them when I again purchase any pack”. 

Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumer Association president Mohiuddin Ahmed told Bangladesh Post, “What mobile operators are doing is one type of fraud. We are yet to get a suitable answer from them why unused mobile data cannot be returned. BTRC should take action in this regard. We also presented these issues in the last public hearing of BTRC. But there was no answer or solution to the issues.”

In early August, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar ordered the return of unused mobile data. He asked Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to take immediate action in this regard. However, almost a month later, the minister's instructions to return the data are still not working; Mobile phone subscribers are not getting benefits.

Later, the issue of data return was also raised in the BTRC’s virtual public hearing held on August 22. When asked about the return of unused data (Internet), officials of BTRC said that they are talking about the return of data with mobile operators.  A committee has been formed in this regard. The decision will be taken in consultation with all parties. 

However, mobile phone operators said that some data is now returned in compliance with the current BTRC guidelines. There are two conditions to be met to return unused data. One of them is to purchase the same internet package and the second is the package must be purchased again before it expires. However, if a subscriber buys a different package, the data is not refundable. 

When contacted, Grameenphone’s acting head of corporate affairs Hossain Sadat told Bangladesh Post, “BTRC has a specific guideline regarding unused internet, and Grameenphone is fully complying with it. According to that, if Grameenphone subscribers purchase the same package while the previous package is valid, they get the data of the previous package carried along with the new package.”

Banglalink’s head of corporate communications and sustainability Ankit Sureka told Bangladesh Post, “Banglalink customers can already avail the facility of carrying forward the unused data. If a customer purchases a new data pack before the expiration of another, and if they both have the same validity period, the unused data of the previous one will be carried forward to the latter.” 

BTRC Vice-Chairman Subrata Roy said, “BTRC is working to return unused mobile data to customers. We have also given some instructions to the operators to return the data. We have already started working. I have asked the operators for information and have received some. We are studying the matter.”