Private PSTN operators double their subscribers at BTTB’s expense

According to statistics from the Bangladesh Telecoms Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the country’s twelve private sector local telephony operators increased their collective subscriber base by 122% in 2007, ending December with a total of 315,000 subscribers to basic wireline and CDMA-based WiLL services. In the face of new competition, incumbent PTO Bangladesh Telegraph & Telephone Board (BTTB) saw its PSTN customer base fall slightly from 877,000 at the start of the year to 872,000 by end-December. According to local newspaper The Daily Star, the private operators provide fixed-wireless connections at prices up to half that charged by BTTB. RanksTel is the largest alternative provider with 113,000 PSTN customers by the end of 2007, up by 148% year-on-year. RanksTel, Dhaka Telephone Company, National Telecom, Square Informatrix and Tele Barta are licensed to operate nationally, while other private operators are restricted to certain regions.