With no decision in sight, it seems people will have to continue waiting to see a reduction in mobile data charges. The government is still working towards lowering data charges by half of the current rate or equivalent to the rates in India. This was one of the pledges made by the government during its election campaign.
A sub-committee under the Cabinet Secretariat, with technical assistance from the GovTech Agency, is said to be working on reducing the data charges.
However, the sub-committee has not disclosed any details about the progress of the plan.
During the last parliament session, the Industry, Commerce, and Employment Minister Namgyal Dorji said that a final decision was expected by the end of last year.
People, BBS talked to said that they are still waiting for the government’s decision.
A resident of Thimphu, Kezang Dorji said, “The government has promised to reduce data charges, and I believe this would be a huge benefit for people like us. While we’re unsure how they plan to implement this, we remain hopeful and look forward to it.”
“Internet charges in Bhutan are quite high, especially compared to India. While the government promised to lower the costs, nothing has been done yet. We are still waiting for the promised reduction,” said Shiv Shankar, another resident of Thimphu.
“WeChat usage is expensive, especially when it comes to recharging data and vouchers. If the government reduces the costs, it will benefit everyone across the country,” Jai Bdr Ghimirary, a resident of Tsirang.
“The Nu 99 data package barely lasts a day. If the government lowers the cost, it would greatly help business owners and students who rely on the Internet for work and studies. With so many people using mobile data, these high charges are becoming a real burden,” said Aga Nidhi Archarya, a resident of Tsirang.
Although it has been indicated that a decision will be made soon, there is still no clear timeline or details on the decision.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Sangay Chezom
