The cost of internet usage has increased due to the increase in the VAT of the internet services of mobile operators. Until now, mobile operators were paying VAT at 5 percent against internet services, making it 15 percent since July 1. As a result, customers will have to buy the internet at 6-8 percent higher prices.
On June 30, the organization of mobile operators (Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh) wrote a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Commission (BTRC) and the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
In this context, Ravi Ajita's Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Saheed Alam said that the operators have paid 5 percent VAT in the last one year. The reduced rate has not been adjusted to this VAT, resulting in the effective VAT rate of 17 percent.
The amendments made in the VAT Act in the current budget have made the calculations more complicated, so all operators have decided to get VAT at an ideal rate of 15 percent on internet packages, he said, adding that the price of the internet could be 6-8 percent.
