BTRC to introduce separate SIM series for IoT, M2M devices

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to introduce a separate SIM numbering series for Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices to manage the country's rapidly growing network of smart gadgets and sensors.

These devices communicate with each other and the internet without human intervention. The move is aimed at handling the rising flow of data and preparing Bangladesh for the next phase of digital transformation.

At present, IoT and M2M devices use the same mobile-numbering series as human users. Industry insiders warn that the current numbering system will not be able to handle the sharp rise in IoT connections expected over the next decade.

According to BTRC documents, the commission recently decided to introduce a separate numbering series is urgently needed.

IoT and M2M SIMs are specialised cards used by machines to transmit small data packets over mobile networks. Unlike regular SIMs, they are more durable, secure, and can be managed remotely.

"With the rapid growth of smart meters, vehicle trackers, industrial sensors, wearable devices, and hundreds of other automated tools, the existing capacity will soon fall short," said Md Emdad ul Bari, chairman of the BTRC. "So, we are introducing a separate numbering series."

He added that IoT SIMs will not support voice calls and are part of the regulator's broader plan to enable large-scale digital adoption.

IoT and M2M SIMs are specialised cards used by machines to transmit small data packets over mobile networks. Unlike regular SIMs, they are more durable, secure, and can be managed remotely.

BTRC officials said that many countries already use separate numbering series and ranges for IoT and M2M services to improve monitoring, regulatory reporting, and security oversight. Separating machine-based communication from traditional users is increasingly essential for long-term planning and fraud prevention.

As smart cities, industrial automation, logistics monitoring, utility digitisation, and consumer smart devices continue to expand, IoT and M2M connections are expected to grow rapidly in Bangladesh and globally.

"IoT and machine-to-machine SIM usage has increased by 20 percent in the past year, especially for smart home solutions and car tracking," said Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer at Robi Axiata.

Officials added that the nationwide expansion of 4G and the planned rollout of 5G will further boost demand for IoT connectivity.

They estimate that as industries, municipalities, and service providers adopt large-scale automation, the number of IoT connections in Bangladesh could reach "several crores" in the near future.

NUMBERING PLAN DETAILS

Under the National Numbering Plan 2017, operators can use 13-digit numbers starting with 01 for mobile services. Mobile operators have already applied for new number blocks as the 01 prefix nears exhaustion, partly due to rising IoT SIM usage.

Currently, the 01X series used by Grameenphone (017/013), Banglalink (019/014), Robi (018/016), and Teletalk (015) is reserved for human-centric mobile services. Although prefixes like 010, 011, and 012 are unused, the BTRC wants to keep them for future mobile needs rather than assigning them to IoT.

Several other prefixes—05X, 06X, 07X, and 08X—are available. After reviewing options, the BTRC committee recommended dedicating the 06 series exclusively to IoT and M2M connections.

Operator-specific codes would be assigned randomly -- 061 for Banglalink, 062 for Teletalk, 063 for Robi, and 064 for Grameenphone. Other prefixes, including 060 and 065–069, will be reserved for future expansion.

The committee studied numbering systems in India, Malaysia, Singapore, France, Kenya, South Africa, Nepal, and Tanzania. Most use 11- to 15-digit numbers for IoT, allowing them to support billions of devices.

Bangladesh may eventually shift to a 14- or 15-digit format for long-term scalability, though this would require major upgrades to operators' systems. For now, the regulator will introduce IoT numbers using the existing 13-digit framework.

Under the new structure -- country code 880, a one-digit IoT prefix, a one-digit operator identifier, and eight digits for device connections -- Bangladesh can allocate up to one billion IoT numbers.

Operators will receive numbers in blocks of five million and will get new blocks only after using previous ones.

"It was a long-standing demand for us, and we welcome the decision. But if the SIM tax on these categories of SIMs is not withdrawn, the decision will not deliver the expected results," said Shahed Alam of Robi Axiata.

The BTRC plans to request the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to exempt IoT SIMs from the Tk 300 SIM tax. Removing this tax would significantly reduce deployment costs for energy utilities, manufacturing, transport, agriculture, and IoT start-ups.

Recognising that IoT SIMs differ from consumer SIMs, the BTRC will simplify registration. Corporate or device-based registration will replace individual verification.

IoT numbers will also follow a faster recycling system, with inactive numbers recycled after three months instead of the current 12 months, ensuring more efficient use of numbering resources.