BT plans to reduce mobile data charges by 50% starting July 1, following Cabinet directive to make internet services more affordable in the country. TashiCell, a private sector company, has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach, claiming that they were excluded from stakeholders meetings and their sustainability proposal was ignored. When telecom and internet service companies met with Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. The Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority, GovTech, and service providers were instructed by an executive directive to create practical plans to slash mobile data costs by half. PM declared that the 50% reduction proposal had been agreed by the Cabinet. This came after a Cabinet subcommittee that examined the proposal’s viability held multiple rounds of stakeholder meetings. Before making the final decision, GovTech stated that the operational and financial aspects of operating mobile networks were taken into account. Revenue for the company increased to Nu 6.098 billion in 2023 from Nu 5.88 billion in 2022 and Nu 5.38 billion in 2021, according to BT.
Bhutan has 20 internet service providers in addition to two telecom firms, BT and TashiCell. Together, they provide service to about 21,000 internet leased line consumers and 790,000 mobile subscribers. There are now active government discussions to investigate short-, medium-, and long-term internet cost reduction methods. Govt intends to make long-term investments in fiber infrastructure and national telecommunications to provide consumers with high-speed, reasonably priced internet. The initiative also seeks to reduce mobile network congestion by increasing home internet access.