Internet users in Noakhali are not getting service as per government instructions. Government rules and regulations are not being obeyed in the district. There are allegations that good internet speed (Mbps) is not available even with a price higher than the government fixed price.
Users have to accept the suffering. In this case, the customers have demanded to increase the supervision of the control agency. However, the traders claim that they are providing services as per the government guidelines.
It has been learned that the internet users of Noakhali are not getting the ‘One Country One Rate’ broadband internet service announced by the government on June 6 this year. The charge that has been earmarked based on MBPS as per government guidelines from September 1 is not followed there.
The broadband internet user said that they are paying Tk 500 for 5 Mbps speed but it is seen that they are not getting internet at the prescribed speed. It takes a long time to download a video of 50 Megabyte.
Ordinary customers have repeatedly told businesses that this is a computer problem. They claim that the speed of internet in this district is at least weak, but again the condition of the village is worse than that of the city. As a result, many people are getting a lot of speed while going to work officially.
However, as per the government guidelines, Tk 500 is fixed for 5 Mbps speeds, Tk 800 for 10 Mbps speeds and Tk 1,200 for 20 Mbps speed.
It can be seen that most of the customers in the district are using 5 Mbps and 10 Mbps. Only a few customers are using 20 Mbps speed connection. Users of 5 and 10 Mbps speeds report that 5 Mbps users are getting a maximum of 3 Mbps speed, but not regularly. The same is true of 10 Mbps users. 5 and 10 Mbps customers are only getting half the speed. Several internet users in Kabirhat, Kompaniganj and Begumganj of the district said that they paid Tk 800-1000 for 5 Mbps speed before the government directive. Now, according to the government instructions, they are supposed to take Tk 500, but the traders are taking Tk 700-800 from them but, the speed of the internet is much less.
It is learned that some traders in the district town Maijdi are following the government instructions but most of the broadband traders in the upazila town are not following the government instructions.
According to the Noakhali Internet Businessmen's Association, there is broadband internet service in all the upazila towns of the district including Sadar upazila. More than 60 traders are associated with this business. Most of them are young entrepreneurs.
However, two percent of them are licensed by a government department. And everyone is running this business without a license. As a result, they are taking the money as they wish and giving MBPS. In this case, the association and the general customers have urged to increase the supervision of the regulatory body.
Meanwhile, on condition of anonymity, several broadband traders at the district level said that it is not possible to do business in any way if the government speeds up the price. They claim that it costs Tk 90 per Mbps from Dhaka. Again, it costs another Tk 50 to deliver it to the house.
All in all, the cost is Tk 150-160 per Mbps speed until it reaches the customer. In this case, at a speed of 5 Mbps, the trader is spending around Tk 600 to 700. The traders have also demanded re-evaluation of the government's directive.
District Broadband Internet Association President Md Babar said they have been at a loss since the government's directive. Those who do not have a license, they may continue to do business like them. But those who have licenses are being forced to follow government guidelines. As a result, licensed traders are suffering the most.
