BTCL to emerge as mobile virtual operator with triple-play, quad-play services
NN ONLINE:
Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) would enter to the country’s mobile phone market by launching Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) services for the first time in the country, accompanied by triple-play and quad-play packages designed to expand access to devices, voice data and entertainment.
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb hinted it through a post on his facebook, saying, “The new Telecom Policy has removed all barriers to launching MVNO operations in Bangladesh”.
He wrote: “BTCL is coming up with triple-play and quad-play services in Bangladesh for the first time.”
“BTCL MVNO, mobile SIM; BTCL Alap IP Phone app-based voice calling– Through these two channels, unlimited voice calls will be provided, subject to certain conditions,” he added.
Taiyeb said that the new telecom network licensing policy has removed all barriers to launching MVNO operations in Bangladesh, opening the door for BTCL’s entry into the mobile market.
A Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) is a mobile service provider that offers voice, data and messaging services without owning its own wireless network infrastructure. Instead, an MVNO leases network capacity from an existing Mobile Network Operator (MNO) and resells it to customers under its own brand.
MVNOs can offer flexible service packages, competitive pricing and innovative plans, often targeting specific market segments such as students, low-income users, or niche communities. Because they do not need to invest in building towers, spectrum, or network hardware, MVNOs can focus on customer experience, value-added services, and tailored packages.
Globally, MVNOs operate in over 80 countries, and their popularity has grown because they allow telecom markets to expand competition, provide more choices to consumers, and increase network utilization efficiency.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb also wrote that unlimited data will be provided through BTCL’s GPON, ISP connections, which would ensure unlimited data, while entertainment services will come via optional over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as Bongo, Chorki and Hoichoi.
He also said that Netflix or Amazon Prime may be added later, with the plan also targeting piracy challenges faced by OTT platforms in Bangladesh.
To expand access to 5G services, the special assistant said, BTCL will introduce smartphones on installment plans. “Smartphones would be available on a Tk 500 monthly installment with a one-year package and a small initial deposit,” Taiyeb said, adding that the move will address the existing access-to-device problem for lower-income citizens.
Due to the burden of one-time payments, lower-income and lower-middle-income citizens at the grassroots level are unable to afford smartphones, he noted.
He said, “That is why we are working to make device accessibility easier. Several companies will soon begin selling phones on installments.”
“We have sat with multiple local manufacturers, who have assured that they can provide reasonably good smartphones at a Tk 500 monthly installment,” he added.
In October, Taiyeb said, BTCL authorities will provide detailed information on this initiative through a media briefing.
As the country’s largest state-owned telecom company, he said, BTCL aims to make people’s lives easier by ensuring access to devices, voice, data and entertainment, and in doing so, seeks to bring a new momentum to the communication system.
He ended his post, saying, “We want to remove the barriers of limited voice, limited data, limited content, and device restrictions in people’s communication and entertainment.”
The country’s new telecom policy has recognised Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), opening the door for companies to offer mobile services without owning physical networks.
The move is expected to intensify market competition, draw new investments, and introduce tailored and innovative offerings for varied consumer segments-including students, rural communities, and expatriates.
Following the government’s gazette notification on September 22, the newly adopted Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2025 has empowered the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to formulate fresh guidelines for MVNO licensing and operations.
The policy outlines a proportionate regulatory framework, allowing both full-scale and light-touch licensing depending on the operator’s market scope and service model. With MVNOs now formally recognised, stakeholders anticipate a new wave of competition that could reshape the mobile services landscape in Bangladesh.
Globally, MVNOs have proven successful in bringing competition and consumer-focused services. For instance, Tesco Mobile in the United Kingdom and Aldi Talk in Germany leverage established networks to provide affordable, flexible packages, while Lycamobile operates across more than 20-25 countries, targeting expatriates with low-cost international calls and data.
Consumer Cellular in the United States focuses on seniors, offering simple, affordable, and customer-friendly plans. Such models demonstrate the potential for MVNOs to serve niche markets and expand consumer choice without heavy infrastructure investment.