BTRC beefs up service monitoring capacity

Bans Grameenphone from selling any types of SIMs

Star Business Report

Mon Nov 7, 2022 12:00 AM Last update on: Mon Nov 7, 2022 12:00 AM

When the project will be implemented fully, the quality of mobile services in all areas of the country can be monitored from the BTRC and there will be transparency in revenue collection from the operators, an official of the telecom regulator said. Photo: STAR/file

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When the project will be implemented fully, the quality of mobile services in all areas of the country can be monitored from the BTRC and there will be transparency in revenue collection from the operators, an official of the telecom regulator said. Photo: STAR/file

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has bolstered its capability to monitor the quality of services provided by local network operators by introducing a new benchmarking system.

In a bid to ensure standard voice and internet services for customers, the telecom regulator launched the new system through a press conference at its office in Dhaka yesterday.

With the new system acquired from Rohde & Schwarz, a Munich-based independent group that makes a range of electronic capital goods, the BTRC will be able to test the service quality of mobile networks in four divisions at a time.

The system is comprised of four units, including two vehicle-mounted systems and two backpack-based systems, according to Brigadier General Md Ehsanul Kabir, director general of the engineering and operations division of the BTRC.

Each of the two vehicle-mounted systems are equipped with 24 terminals that can measure the service quality of 2G, 3G and 4G voice calls, 3G and 4G data speed and over the top apps (OTT) of all operators.

Through the backpack-based system, the quality of mobile services can be checked more closely in both outdoor and indoor areas, including markets, offices, houses and more.

Scanners are attached to each of the four units, enabling them to check the status of network coverage such as mobile network signal strength or weakness at any location.

The total cost of the project was 15 lakh euros.

“It took us nine months last year to test the service quality of mobile network operators throughout the country. But now, we will be able to do it within just two months,” Kabir said.

The new system, which is also capable of measuring 5G service quality, will play an important role in the BTRC’s continued efforts to ensure quality services to customers in the telecom sector.

“Through this, the telecom regulator will gain more capacity to monitor and improve the quality of mobile services in the country,” said BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder.

“If implemented, the quality of mobile services in all areas of the country can be monitored from the BTRC and there will be transparency in revenue collection from the operators,” he added.

GRAMEENPHONE BANNED FROM SELLING ALL TYPES OF SIMs

Earlier on June 30, the telecom regulator had ordered Grameenphone to stop selling new SIM cards for the operator’s failure to provide quality services.

But in mid-September, the network provider was allowed to sell its old numbers that had remained unused for 450 days if they were approved before the SIM sales ban.

However, the telecom watchdog yesterday backtracked from its decision and banned Grameenphone from selling any type of connection.

Although the Grameenphone SIM sales ban was imposed on the grounds of call drops and low service quality, the network provider had earlier passed the BTRC’s test in this regard.

Mustafa Jabbar, telecom minister, and Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, vice chairman of the BTRC, also spoke at the event.