Grameenphone can’t sell new or old SIM cards: BTRC

After allowing Grameenphone to sell unused but pre-approved SIM cards over a month ago, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) backtracked on its decision.

The telecom regulator now barred the country's leading telecom operator from recycling old SIM cards, on top of selling new ones.

BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder made the announcement at a programme held at the BTRC office on Sunday.

On 29 June, the regulatory commission issued an embargo on the sale of new Grameenphone SIM cards for an indefinite period on the ground of poor quality of service.

The decision hit the operator hard as it has lost 16 lakh subscribers since the embargo was issued.

As of August, Grameenphone has a subscriber base of 8.31 crore which was 8.48 crore in June.

BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder said he has allowed the operator to sell 13 lakh old unused SIMs, considering the high demand for Grameenphone SIM.

"But the service quality of the operator has not improved since the suspension of new SIM card sales. The ministry has instructed me to revoke my earlier order that allowed the sale of old SIMs," he said while answering a question on Sunday.

When contacted, Khairul Basher, head of Communications at Grameenphone, said, "On behalf of our customers, the company deeply regrets this decision. We believe it is counterproductive for the nation's digitalisation agenda and against the principle of customers' freedom of choice."