Bangladesh Launches First MVNO SIM Service by BTCL

Bangladesh has officially launched its first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) SIM service, marking a major step in the nation's telecommunications landscape. The service, operated by the state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), became operational on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, after successfully completing all critical technical processes, including voice calls, data services, and network integration.

Fayez Ahmed Tayeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, confirmed the launch via a social media post. He highlighted that the BTCL MVNO SIM had been activated successfully across several essential components: voice calls, data services, Alap-to-mobile network connectivity, Alap-to-Alap communication, and GPON integration. All test calls were conducted without issues.

In preparation for the pilot phase, on-site monitoring of the activation and provisioning process was carried out at BTCL's Gulistan and Ramna offices on Tuesday afternoon. The live pilot phase of the service is scheduled to begin on February 8, 2026.

BTCL received regulatory approval to operate the MVNO service on a trial basis on November 25, 2025. Industry experts view this launch as a significant development, expected to enhance competition and innovation in Bangladesh’s telecom sector while improving customer service.