In a significant move to tackle the scarcity of mobile numbers, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has slashed the recycling period for inactive SIM cards from 18 months to 12 months reportedly. This change aims to optimize the use of limited mobile number resources while ensuring fair practices for consumers.
The new policy mandates that a SIM must remain inactive for 11 months before operators issue a 30-day notice, after which unused numbers can be recycled. However, mobile operators can extend the registration of inactive SIMs by two or three years if users meet specific conditions.
These conditions include paying a fee to extend the registration and recharging the SIM with any amount during the extension period. Notably, if a user recharges the SIM, the recycling countdown resets and begins only after 12 months of the recharge validity’s expiration.
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For users who extend registration without recharging, operators can recycle the SIM after the extension period ends, provided they issue a 30-day notice beforehand. Even users with unlimited usage packages will find their SIMs subject to recycling once their package validity expires under the updated rules.
Interestingly, the BTRC has prohibited operators from offering bonuses such as data, talk time, or SMS during these extended registration periods, emphasizing fairness and transparency. Additionally, operators must adhere to existing VAT and tax regulations.
To ensure customers are well-informed, operators are required to use diverse communication channels, including SMS, mobile apps, leaflets, and even online platforms like Facebook, to highlight the changes in inactive SIM registration and recycling procedures.
This revamped policy aligns with international standards, such as the International Telecommunication Union’s structured numbering plans, which cap phone numbers at 15 digits, including the country code. In Bangladesh, prefixes like 017, 019, 018, and 016 further narrow the range, making efficient number management critical.
As of September, there were 19.08 crore active SIM cards in the country. Given the growing demand for mobile numbers in a densely populated nation, coupled with technical constraints on network systems, the shortened recycling period has been welcomed by operators, who have long advocated for this adjustment.
By streamlining the recycling process, BTRC is addressing a pressing issue while balancing consumer rights and industry needs, paving the way for a more sustainable mobile communication system in Bangladesh.
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