𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝟓𝟎 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞

…𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆

By Kinzang Lhamo

The government’s pledge to cut mobile data charges in the country by 50 percent, one of the most anticipated promises of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) manifesto, remains stalled more than four months after the earlier implementation date of July 1, 2025. Despite repeated public assurances, intensive review processes, and several rounds of consultations among regulators, telecom operators, and government agencies, the revised tariffs are still awaiting final approval.

The reduction of telecom charges was among the 13 pledges highlighted under the PDP’s 13th Plan Plus 13 Pledge, which committed to lowering data prices by half or adjusting them to rates comparable to India. During the 12th Meet-the-Press session on February 7, 2025, the government reaffirmed that mobile data charges must be reduced by 50 percent while ensuring that service quality and the financial health of telecom operators would not be compromised. GovTech agency, along with an expert committee, was tasked with identifying practical modalities to introduce the revised tariffs in the short term.

In March 2025, the Cabinet formally endorsed the 50 percent data charge reduction, setting July 1 as the rollout date. But the plan soon encountered delays. Bhutan Telecom’s parent company, Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), temporarily halted the implementation to study the implications on revenue, network capacity, and service quality. Bhutan Telecom later submitted a revised proposal to the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA), falling short of the full reduction. Instead of slashing prices across all packages, the company suggested doubling data volumes on its popular prepaid plans priced between Nu 99 and Nu 499.

By late 2025, the regulator had not issued a final decision. BICMA sought further clarification from Bhutan Telecom on whether the company could sustain the proposed adjustments without service disruptions, contributing to a growing sense of public impatience. Many citizens expressed frustration that the pledge, widely seen as a step toward digital accessibility and affordability, appeared repeatedly delayed with no definite timeline.

The issue resurfaced in Parliament during the fourth session when the Member of Parliament from Kengkhar-Weringla raised concerns over the prolonged delay. She pointed out that it was the third time the matter had been brought to the House and questioned why the implementation timeline announced in March had not been met. She asked the government to provide a clear update on the status of the pledge and the measures taken to ensure that network capacity, service quality, and the financial sustainability of telecom operators would not be jeopardized once the reduction took effect.

Responding to the questions, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment, Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, said the government was cautious not to rush the implementation at the cost of service quality and network stability.
“We have been working on this pledge for more than two years. The delay of four months happened because we must ensure that a 50 percent reduction does not compromise service quality or the financial sustainability of the telecom operators,” the minister said.

He added that GovTech, BICMA, Bhutan Telecom, TashiCell, and internet service providers had held several rounds of consultations to develop a model that balanced affordability with technical feasibility.
The minister said that the government had identified five key data packages priced at Nu 19, Nu 49, Nu 99, Nu 199, and Nu 499, for the full 50 percent reduction.

“Out of the 14 package categories used by the public, Bhutan Telecom could meet the full reduction only for Nu 19 and Nu 49. For the rest, they initially managed only 30 to 40 percent,” he said.

Telecom operators informed the government that an abrupt 50 percent cut across all packages would significantly affect their revenues and could create network congestion if data consumption spiked. These concerns led BICMA and Bhutan Telecom to carry out technical and financial studies in August and September. According to the minister, the studies indicated that the full reduction was technically possible without compromising network performance in the targeted packages. BICMA later issued a written directive asking Bhutan Telecom to begin implementation by November, though the new tariffs remain pending.

Lyonpo stressed that the broader goal of the pledge remained unchanged.
“This reduction is part of our national digital strategy and the 13th Five-Year Plan. We are not doing it to benefit one group or cause losses to another. The intention is to ensure affordable connectivity for all citizens,” he said.

He stated that upstream international bandwidth costs were a significant factor in the country’s high data prices, as the nation currently relies on two internet gateways from India. He said the government was working to reduce these costs through cross-border discussions and highlighted that the country’s recent agreement with Bangladesh for a third international gateway is expected to help lower rates and improve quality in the future.

Telecom infrastructure investment remains another challenge. Bhutan Telecom reportedly invests between Nu 1 billion and Nu 2 billion annually in network expansion. Sudden tariff cuts would require accelerated capacity upgrades, placing financial strain on the operator. The minister explained that this justified the need for an additional three to four months to ensure a smooth and sustainable transition.

While the technical and policy discussions continue, the public remains concerned. Lungten Norbu, a resident of Thimphu, said he is beginning to doubt whether the reduction will ever materialize.

“Living in the capital is already expensive. Recharging every few days is making it harder,” he said.
Another resident from Punakha, Dorji Tshering, said the current data plans are impractical, noting that a weekly Nu 49 package often lasts less than half an hour in real use. He suggested that if reducing prices is not immediately possible, increasing data volume would be a welcome alternative.

A university student, Kamal, recommended adopting India’s model, where daily data limits are provided at affordable monthly rates. He believes such a system would allow data to last longer and give users more control over their spending.

As the year draws to an end, many Bhutanese hope the reduction will finally take effect in 2026. For now, the 50 percent mobile data reduction pledge remains a work in progress, with expectations rising and timelines continuing to shift.