BTRC to launch nationwide quality of service test for telcos

The telecom regulator is set to launch quality of service (QoS) tests for the first time across the country to check the services provided by the mobile phone operators.

The massive problem of call drops and poor quality of telecom services infuriated users in the country. After the persistent discontent amongst the users, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is trying to ensure the service quality.

“The QoS test to check services of four mobile companies will begin across the country early next year,” Zakir Hossain Khan, the BTRC spokesperson, told Business Insider.

“To get the job done, a company will be picked up by this month,” he said.

Earlier, the BTRC conducted QoS tests on a limited scale. “But we’re going to carry out nationwide test drives for the first time,” said Khan.

In a QoS test, the BTRC set new parameters for assessing call quality, call drop rates, connection times, uplink and downlink speeds of 4G internet so that customers get to experience better call quality.

In February this year, the BTRC invited applications from interested firms to carry out the nationwide QoS drive.

Last year, the telecom regulator conducted a test drive in Dhaka and Barishal to assess the quality of the 4G service by mobile operators as per the BTRC benchmark of 7 Mbps download speed.

All four mobile phone operators were found providing 4G internet services below the BTRC benchmark.

In Dhaka, Grameenphone and Robi met the benchmark while Banglalink was providing service at 6.49 Mbps and Teletalk at 4.85 Mbps.

In Barishal, all the four operators failed to meet the 4G internet speed set by the BTRC benchmark.

Over the last two years, the mobile phone towers could not be installed due to tower sharing guideline complexities and more 1 crore new subscribers were added, bringing intense pressure on the networks.

“We’re receiving huge complaints regarding poor service quality and call drop against all four mobile phone operators. With the QoS drive test, we’re hoping to push telcos to improve their network quality,” said a senior BTRC official.