The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is considering allowing mobile subscribers to borrow up to Tk 500 in emergency balance, raising the existing limit of Tk 200 for three operators as demand for larger credit facilities grows alongside concerns over service charges and repayment costs.

The proposed increase follows discussions between the telecom regulator and mobile operators, who have reached a broad understanding on the higher ceiling but differ over the fee structure. The outcome is expected to shape the cost and availability of emergency credit for millions of prepaid subscribers across the country.

Under the proposed arrangement, a subscriber borrowing between Tk 200 and Tk 500 would pay a maximum service charge of Tk 10 before taxes. With applicable taxes, the total charge would reach Tk 13.90.

At present, the service charge for an emergency balance of up to Tk 200 is Tk 2, or Tk 2.78 including taxes. The proposed revision would allow customers to access larger amounts when their regular balance is exhausted, helping them purchase higher-priced data, voice and bundled packages without an immediate recharge.

Mobile operators have maintained that the existing ceiling has become restrictive as customers increasingly rely on mobile internet and digital communication services. Many packages now cost more than Tk 200, limiting the usefulness of the current emergency balance facility for subscribers seeking to maintain uninterrupted connectivity.

A higher borrowing limit could therefore provide greater flexibility, particularly for prepaid users who need additional data or minutes but cannot immediately add funds to their accounts.

However, the proposed expansion has also prompted scrutiny of the financial burden associated with emergency borrowing. Although the facility was originally designed to support subscribers during urgent communication needs, it has gradually developed into a wider short-term credit mechanism covering data loans, minute loans and buy-now-pay-later services.

The borrowed amount and applicable charges are generally deducted from subsequent recharges. Subscribers who repeatedly depend on the facility may consequently find that a portion of their recharge is used to settle previous borrowing rather than pay for new services.

Industry sources estimate that approximately 3.5 million customers take emergency balance every day across the country’s four mobile operators. The credit is provided through authorised financial institutions working with the operators, rather than being financed directly by the mobile companies.

The Bangladesh Mobile Telecom Operators Association (AMTOB) submitted a proposal to the BTRC on July 23, seeking approval to raise the emergency balance ceiling to Tk 500.

Under the association’s initial proposal, balances of up to Tk 10 would remain free of charge. Borrowing above Tk 10 and up to Tk 200 would carry a service fee of Tk 2, while balances exceeding Tk 200 and up to Tk 500 would attract a maximum fee of Tk 15.

At a meeting on August 20, the BTRC and AMTOB agreed on a lower maximum service charge of Tk 10 for emergency balances in the Tk 200-Tk 500 range, according to industry sources.

Grameenphone, Robi and state-owned Teletalk agreed to the arrangement, while Banglalink proposed a tiered fee structure under which the charge would depend on the amount borrowed.

Banglalink’s proposal includes a service fee of Tk 2 for balances of Tk 11-Tk 20, Tk 3 for Tk 21-Tk 50 and Tk 6 for Tk 151-Tk 200. For emergency credit ranging from Tk 401 to Tk 500, the proposed charge would be Tk 10.

The differences reflect competing approaches to pricing emergency credit. A uniform maximum fee could make the arrangement easier to understand, while a graduated structure could link charges more closely to the amount borrowed. The final decision will determine how the costs are distributed among subscribers using different levels of emergency balance.

For consumers, the affordability of the service remains a key consideration. A higher limit may help subscribers access more expensive packages, but the associated charges could reduce the value of future recharges. Clear disclosure of fees, repayment obligations and deductions would be important in ensuring that customers understand the actual cost of borrowing.

The debate intensified after Grameenphone sought a substantially higher borrowing ceiling earlier this year. In a letter dated March 3, 2026, the operator asked the BTRC to permit emergency balances of up to Tk 2,000, with a maximum service charge of Tk 20.

The company argued that the existing ceiling was no longer sufficient for customers whose mobile data consumption had increased and who needed to purchase higher-priced packages and digital services.

Other operators opposed the proposed Tk 2,000 limit at a meeting with the regulator on June 21, warning that a sharp increase could disrupt competition and raise the risk of unpaid credit.

The BTRC subsequently asked AMTOB to submit a common proposal on behalf of the industry. The discussions eventually produced the compromise proposal to raise the maximum emergency balance to Tk 500.

Bangladesh’s mobile telecommunications market comprises Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink and state-owned Teletalk. The operators collectively serve more than 190 million mobile connections, according to the BTRC, making emergency balance a significant feature of the country’s prepaid telecommunications market.

The regulator established a minimum fee-free emergency balance facility in 2019. On February 5 that year, it directed operators to provide at least Tk 10 without a service charge. A subsequent decision reached with operators on July 2 retained the exemption for balances of up to Tk 10 while allowing fees on larger amounts.

Under the existing arrangements, Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink can provide emergency balance of up to Tk 200, with a service charge of Tk 2, or Tk 2.78 including taxes. Teletalk’s maximum limit remains Tk 50, with a total charge of Tk 6.95 including taxes.

The proposed increase would expand access to emergency credit, but it would also require the regulator to consider the relationship between borrowing limits, service charges and consumer protection. The final arrangement could influence both how frequently subscribers use the facility and how much they pay to maintain connectivity.

For mobile operators, a higher ceiling could support demand for larger packages and provide an additional option for customers whose balances run out unexpectedly. For subscribers, the benefit will depend on whether the expanded facility offers affordable credit and transparent repayment conditions.

As the BTRC considers the proposal, the central challenge is to improve access to mobile services without placing an excessive financial burden on prepaid users. The final decision on the borrowing ceiling and fee structure will determine whether the revised facility delivers greater convenience while keeping emergency credit affordable.