Dhaka:Mobile phone users of Robi Axiata and Banglalink can now utilize their mobile balances to purchase a broader range of eligible products and services, as the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has increased transaction limits under Direct Operator Billing (DOB).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the revised limits permit customers to spend up to Tk 5,000 per month and Tk 50,000 annually through their mobile operator accounts. This change expands the scope of a payment channel providing an alternative to bank accounts and credit cards for eligible digital purchases.
The approval, effective for six months from July 20, 2026, aligns Robi and Banglalink with the higher limits previously approved for Grameenphone. The BTRC granted retrospective approval for the revised limits, as outlined in a letter sent to the operators on September 13, following their application for an increase on August 25.
The commission emphasized the necessity of extending the higher limits to both operators to maintain fair competition, preventing an undue advantage for Grameenphone due to its 'significant market power operator' status. Robi Axiata welcomed the initiative, with Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer, stating it would promote digital inclusion and support the transition to a cashless society.
DOB enables payments for specific products directly from mobile balances. Under the revised limits, eligible purchases include smartphones and SIM-based modems and routers, either outright or in installments, along with other permitted digital products and services. However, the service remains subject to regulatory safeguards and restrictions on transaction types permitted.
Operators must adhere to Bangladesh Bank guidelines and obtain approval under revised guidelines for prepaid payment instruments. They must comply with the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2024, the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009. Customers are required to complete know-your-customer (KYC) procedures in line with Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit standards.
The rules prohibit DOB payments for virtual currencies in social media applications and games, as well as payments to applications that collect public investments, provide loans, store money, or facilitate financial transactions. The service is not allowed for gambling, cryptocurrency trading, foreign-exchange trading, stock-market trading, or multi-level marketing. For payments to non-resident merchants requiring foreign-currency remittances, operators must obtain approval from the Bangladesh Bank's Foreign Exchange Policy Department.
The BTRC has directed operators to ensure customer protection and establish clear refund and chargeback policies. DOB operations will be subject to Bangladesh Bank inspections, and mobile network operators will be treated as reporting organizations under relevant money-laundering and anti-terrorism laws. The latest revision follows several changes to DOB spending limits since the service's introduction in Bangladesh in 2018.