Sherab Lhamo

The internet data cost in Bhutan is among the highest in Asia—USD 0.71 (Nu 59) per gigabyte (GB) for an 8GB data package.

This is according to the 2023 report on Digital Economy Development and Transformation Strategy by UNDP and GovTech.

Bhutan ranks second only to Myanmar, where data costs reach USD 0.99 per GB for an 8GB data package.

India’s Reliance Jio plans are as low as USD 0.12 (Nu 10) per GB for a 30GB data package.

The lowest data plan was in Cambodia—USD 0.1 for 15GB data package.

The report compared eight Asian countries, including Bhutan, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

During the question-answer session at the National Assembly yesterday, the Prime Minister said in the country there were 760,000 sim card subscribers, more than the population of the country.

Bhutan Telecom has 490,000 users as of now and Tashicell 270,000 users, according to Lyonchhen.

The Prime Minister said that Bhutan Telecom generated Nu 6 billion per year, after taxes and other expenses they earned a profit of Nu 2.5 billion.

In terms of the fixed line broadband, there are 12,000 users mostly in offices and businesses.

When asked on how and when the government will be reducing data charge to 50 percent or equivalent to the rates in India,” asked Kengkhar Weringla MP, Dorji Wangmo.

To address this issue, the prime minister said he would negotiate with the two telecom operators this year on the reduction of talk time, data charges, and internet cost.

If the negotiation does not go as planned, the government might allow a new telecom company, the prime minister said. “We think that two is enough for a country like ours, but if they are unable to reduce the cost, we will have to find another solution.”

The Prime Minister also shared about bringing in a third internet gateway, including Starlink.

The Prime Minister said Starlink was expected to reduce the cost of the internet in the country drastically.

Starlink provides broadband internet through satellite owned by an American aerospace company Space X.