Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has launched a pilot mobile service as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) under the Teletalk Bangladesh Limited network, marking the first such initiative in the country.
The pilot of the BTCL MVNO SIM and integrated triple-play service was inaugurated at the company’s Ramna office on Sunday by the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb.
Under the MVNO model, operators provide mobile services without owning cellular network infrastructure, instead leasing capacity from an existing operator. BTCL is delivering its own SIM-based services while using the Teletalk network for mobile connectivity.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said the initiative aims to make digital services simpler, more affordable and seamless by integrating voice, data and digital content on a single platform. He said users will be able to access the same services at home through WiFi and outside through mobile data using one connection.
He said BTCL holds most major telecommunications licences and operates a nationwide fibre network, and the MVNO launch is part of a broader effort to transform the company into a modern digital service platform by maximising the use of its existing infrastructure.
The pilot integrates the MVNO SIM with the Alap app-based internet protocol calling service, Jeebon broadband and over-the-top digital content, all developed by BTCL’s own engineers, he said.
Referring to customer surveys, the special assistant said nearly 90 per cent of respondents viewed combined mobile and broadband packages positively, indicating strong market demand. He said the model is expected to increase competition, improve service quality and help reduce digital content piracy.
Commercial rollout of the service is planned after the national election, starting from Ramna and Gulshan, with future plans including quad-play services through device connectivity and expanded fibre coverage nationwide.
In the initial phase, customers will receive unlimited voice calls and unlimited internet through the MVNO SIM, alongside gigabit passive optical network broadband with router support and access to popular local streaming content.
Analysts said BTCL’s entry into mobile services through an MVNO arrangement under the Teletalk network could open a new chapter in Bangladesh’s telecom sector by reshaping how public infrastructure is used to deliver integrated digital services.
