During today’s question hour session in the National Assembly, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment, Namgyal Dorji, said that a 50 per cent reduction in mobile data charges is both possible and coming soon. The minister said that this initiative aligns with the country’s national digital transformation goals and is a priority of the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Members of parliament raised concerns about the high mobile data costs in the country, noting that it is among the highest in South Asia.
Some members also inquired about the government’s ongoing discussions with telecom service providers and the possibility of introducing a third provider to help reduce data costs.
In response, the minister said that the government has received comprehensive reports from the Bhutan Information Communication and Media Authority, the GovTech Agency, and the two telecom operators, Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell.
“The good news is that it is possible to reduce the data charges by 50 per cent. The government is prioritising this as it is one of the main priorities in the national digital transformation of the 13th Five-Year Plan.”
The minister added that reducing data costs may initially impact the telecom sector’s GDP contribution in the first two years. However, he said that growth in the digital and creative sectors would offset this decline by the third or fourth year.
Despite the reduced charges, the minister said that Bhutan Telecom would still generate a profit of Nu 46 M.
He said that discussions are currently underway with the Cabinet, with a final decision expected by the end of this year.
Sonam Yuden & Karma Samten Wangda
Edited by Sonam Pem
