Bangladesh govt considers Sim tax cut

The Bangladesh government is planning to reduce Sim taxes and plans to rationalise fees for 2G licence renewal and spectrum charges. In the upcoming budget, the Sim tax of around BDT 800 could be reduced, the Daily Star writes citing telecommunications minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju. According to the minister, only one out of the six mobile operators can afford the tax and as a result the industry passes the tax on to consumers. The operators have long complained that the Sim tax is a barrier to increasing uptake in rural areas. The telecommunications ministry will also enter talks with the operators on the fees for 2G licence renewal and spectrum charges which were criticised for being excessive. The 2G licences of Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, and Citycell will expire in November. However, BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed said that the fees for spectrum were fixed considering the fact that the four operators enjoyed free spectrum in the last 15 years.