Mobile users yet to get high-value services

Mobile Value Added Services (VAS) has been boosting the revenue income of the private mobile operators, as the number of subscribers who meet their day-to-day information requirements through using mobile internet is growing rapidly. Although the service is gaining popularity, the users are not getting this special service yet, as the process of introducing 3G-operation in the country is delayed. The government could not complete the procedure of issuing licenses to the operators for this purpose, sources said adding that the delay in introduction of 3-G operations are causing losses to the people. According to the estimates of the Bangladesh Telecom Sector report of Asian Tiger Capital Partners, Informa Telecoms and Media, the revenues in the emerging economies from mobile VAS would rise to $340 billion in 2014 from US$ 200 billion in 2009. Some estimates suggested mobile data now typically share between 25 to 40 percent of revenues in developed economies. By far it is the fastest growing sector, the report mentioned. At present, six operators of Bangladesh have 65.14 million subscribers, rising from four million in 2004 and it is expected that the number would reach to 100 million by 2013. Of the total subscribers, GrameenPhone’s market shares is 44 percent, while Banglalink shares 28 percent, Robi 18 percent, Warid 5 percent, Citycell 3 percent and Teletalk 2 percent. The VAS provided by six operators are information on BLOOD BANK, Health Line, Jigyasa, I’info, Railway, Yellow Page, Messaging, Quran IVR, Namaz Alert, SMS Timer, Friend Finder, Amar Tune, Mig33, Golpo Chora Gan, Messenger, Song Dedication, Power Menu, SMS e-mail, Voice Adda. Besides, SMS Adda, Downloads, Backup, Vehicle Tracking, Stock Info, Azan Alert, E-ISD, Call Back, Call Block, Easy Divert, Miss Call Alert, Call Waiting, Bill Pay, Line Identity, Conference Hall, Mobile Taka, Cell Bazar, Study Line, E-bill, Cricket updates, Astrology, Dictionary, Weather, Radio, Balance Transfer and others are the services. They provide the services through different internet packages which are very costly, users alleged adding the government is yet to ensure that kind of service for the people through using mobile communication. Sources said VAS ecosystem is creating employment scopes in different fields like Content Generator, Content Aggregator, VAS Application Service Provider, Mobile Network Provider and Subscriber involved. The mobile telecom sectors directly and indirectly have created over 111,790 jobs in the country, sources said. Taking to the daily sun, Abu Saeed Khan, Secretary General of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) said that government should formulate a pro-people policy so that the people could be benefited from this service as well as government’s target of building a digital Bangladesh could be implemented. Until last year, VAS was provided by SMS and ring-tones but other services like mobile email and mobile broadband have grown significantly over the last few years and this has now become a broad ranged service. Sources said the contributes of VAS in the national economy is rising by 20 percent in emerging markets like China, even without introduction of 3G, while the rate is 10 percent in India. The report shows that the average revenue per user in Bangladesh is US$ 3.1, India 4.3, Pakistan 2.3, Indonesia 4.6, Thailand 6.3 and Philippines 4. The contribution of mobile operators to the GDP of Bangladesh is 2.30 percent, while that in Sri Lanka is 1.50 percent, Vietnam 3.20 percent, Pakistan 1.80 percent, India 2.60 percent, the report said.