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09:37 PM, December 13, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 11:04 PM, December 13, 2018

Mobile internet speed suggested to bring down to 2G on polls day

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The law enforcement agencies today suggested the Election Commission to bring down the mobile internet speed to 2G level on the voting day on December 30.

They also came up with a call to the EC to stop operation of mobile banking across the country from at least three days before the election day.

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The suggestions came during a coordination meeting between the EC and the representatives of different law enforcement agencies held at the commission office in Agargaon area of Dhaka this evening.

Home secretary, inspector general of police, the principal staff officer of and armed force, high officials of Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police supers of all the districts and returning officers from across the country attended the meeting.

Some law enforcers, during the meeting, suggested the commission to impose restrictions on the access of journalists so that they cannot enter the poling centres with mobile phone and capture videos, meeting source said.

Talking to The Daily Star, EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said the proposals of bringing down the internet speed to 2G level and stopping mobile banking were placed in the meeting, the decision in this regard has not been taken yet.

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Mobile phone users in Sylhet have complained that they have been facing difficulties to connect the internet on their devices since 10:00am, ahead of the BNP rally in the district today.

Sources in several telecom operators said the BTRC has directed them to keep the 3G and 4G data services shut in Sylhet from 10:00am to 7:30pm today.

Talking to this newspaper, Abdur Rahman Hira, a BNP activist, said he had troubles connecting to the internet on his mobile phone since 10:00am.

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Faster internet service has been switched back on 37 hours into its suspension.

The 3G and 4G service have been resumed at 10:00am, a spokesperson with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told The Daily Star this morning.

Most of the private telecommunications operators also confirmed about it.

The services were switched off at 9:00pm on December 30 (election day) three hours after restoring the mobile internet.

During the period, people were not able to use the internet on their phones, stream or upload pictures or videos.

This the third time the telecom regulator shut down the 3G and 4G services in last two days.

According to the BTRC, there were 8.78 crore active internet connections in the country as of June this year and mobile phone connections accounted for 93.43 per cent.

As of November of 2018, over 6 crore people are currently using the 3G and 4G mobile internet.

According to BTRC data, there were 57.35 lakh broadband connections in November.

On December 26, the BTRC in a meeting with the International Internet Gateway representatives said social media sites, especially Facebook, would be blocked if needed.

BTRC in the night of the following day slowed down mobile internet by shutting down 3G and 4G services. However, the service was restored on Friday morning 10 hours into its suspension.

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Mobile internet service has been blocked at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan political office and its adjacent areas, sources at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) today said.

A high official of BTRC told The Daily Star wishing anonymity that all the mobile phone operators were given instruction to block 3G and 4G services in the area.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said they faced difficulties to talk to Tarique Rahman since afternoon.

“Amid network difficulties we completed the interview process for today (Monday),” he said.

The interviews for the day ended at 10:00pm, he added.

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The telecom regulatory commission has slowed mobile internet by shutting down 3G and 4G services yesterday night.

As per the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) order issued around 10:00pm yesterday, people using the internet on their phones would not be able to stream or upload pictures or videos.

Use of communication apps would also be nearly impossible with the low-speed mobile internet.

Some users have already started complaining about the internet speed since 10:30pm.

As of November, over 6 crore people are currently using the 3G and 4G mobile internet.

Only 2G internet would be available now, according to an e-mail sent to mobile operators by the BTRC's engineering and operations department.

The decision must be in effecti until further notice, it said.

Contacted, BTRC Chairman Jahurul Haque refused to comment on this.

Requesting anonymity, a commissioner said the order followed a request from the higher authorities.

Officials said the situation may continue until December 31.

The BTRC, however, hasn't said anything about broadband services.

According to BTRC data, there were 57.35 lakh broadband connections in November.

On Wednesday, the BTRC in a meeting with the International Internet Gateway representatives said social media sites, especially Facebook, would be blocked if needed.

EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed Earlier told reporters two weeks ago that they would consider completely blocking mobile internet during the polls.

BTRC engineers also visited the mobile operators' offices and examined how long it would take to block the services.

On Monday, the EC asked the BTRC to prepare to block 3G and 4G services and social media sites for three days, including December 30.

The BTRC had also formed a team to stay at its office round the clock and act if any unlawful online activity is detected, officials said.

During the demonstrations for safe roads in August, the BTRC slowed down internet speed for almost 24 hours.

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The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) today urged the government to ensure uninterrupted power in several areas in the southern part of the country for the sake of continuing telecommunication.

"Due to the powerful cyclone Sitrang, we have experienced power outages in several areas in the southern part of the country," AMTOP said in a press release today.

Mobile operators are trying their best to keep the network up and running by using batteries and generators wherever possible, it said.

"Considering telecom service as an emergency public service, we urge the Power Division and other concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted power," it added.

Meanwhile, internet services in the coastal areas are being disrupted due to a lack of electricity in the affected regions as cyclone Sitrang, which was approaching the Bangladesh coasts, is likely to landfall by midnight.

Emdadul Hoque, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), said the cyclone is disrupting broadband internet services and it is not possible to keep the network running in areas without electricity.

However, the Post and Telecommunication Division, earlier in the day, issued an alert requesting operators and service providers to make all necessary preparations to protect their respective installations and telecommunication assets.

Mobile internet speed suggested to bring down to 2G on polls day

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