Govt waives SIM replacement taxes under MNP service

The government has waived all taxes and supplementary duties imposed against every SIM card replacement through the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service.

The Internal Resources Division of the finance ministry published a gazette notification on Monday exempting the MNP services from all taxes on several conditions, reports UNB.

The MNP is a service through which customers can switch from one mobile operator to another mobile while keeping their number unchanged.

The government introduced MNP service in the country in October. After its introduction, the government took decision to reduce its service charge to Tk 57.50 from Tk 157.50.

As per the conditions mentioned in the new gazette, now all mobile phone operators will have to send their previous month's information over the total stock of SIM cards, the number of subscribers who were ported in and ported out through MNP services as well as information over changing SIM cards for other reasons and collection of taxes and duties against it, to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in the first week of every month.

Also the mobile operators will have to send names and number of subscribers who were ported in and ported out availing the MNP services in line with the conditions.

In an instant reaction, the leading mobile network operator, Robi Axiata Limited, said the decision for removal of SIM replacement taxes through MNP service is very positive step.

"We hope that it will enhance interests of clients to avail this service thus the government's revenue will go up further," it said.

Besides, the decision will intensify the competition among the mobile phone operators to render the MNP services and the client will get better services, Robi said.