Dhaka, Feb. 5 -- Bangladesh's telecom regulator has withdrawn a proposal to reduce the maximum number of SIM cards per national identity (NID) from 10 to five following opposition from two mobile operators, reigniting debate over regulatory neutrality and the competitive consequences of policy interventions in the telecom sector.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) recently held discussions with mobile network operators over the proposed SIM cap. While Robi Axiata and Banglalink strongly opposed the move, the regulator ultimately refrained from proceeding with the plan, marking a retreat from a policy initiative that could have significantly altered the competitive landscape of the market.

Market structure and ...