> Small traders and experts express concern over NEIR announcement and trade impact

> The entire country's telecommunications system may collapse

> Expatriates may be cut off from their families

BTRC recently announced the formulation of its policy NEIR (National Equipment Identity Register), which will be effective from December 16, 2025. BTRC made such an announcement on October 29, 2025.

Business sources and concerned people said tha it was made without any prior consultation or detailed socially acceptable dialogue, small and medium traders and market observers claim.

The main promise of the announcement is that new unregistered devices will not be able to connect to the national network from December 16. While there is a rationale for taking such measures in the name of protecting government security and revenue, many are concerned about the impact on the market if the policy is implemented unilaterally in a short period of time.

Concerns of small and medium traders

According to comments published on various local trade organizations and online platforms, more than 20,000 traders currently do direct business in the country's mobile sector, and more than two million people are directly and indirectly dependent on this sector, including workers involved in this sector, transportation and servicing, etc.

Traders at this level say that they welcome this NEIR system, but according to the current outline of NEIR implementation, many small and medium businesses will no longer be able to continue their business, as a result, the dominance of large manufacturers or certain importers may increase.

How this decision can create a crisis in the market — traders' explanation

According to BTRC rules, even if there is an import license, if someone wants to bring in a brand's product, there is a condition of providing 'permission' (NOC) from that brand or their local manufacturing unit, traders claim.

They said that in practice, it is very difficult to get such permission, and as a result, many wholesalers or retailers will be lost from the market. They expressed fear that the market may become concentrated and come under a small syndicate group following this restriction.

Several traders and observers said that two big questions have arisen in this regard — first, how will the NOC clause be enforceable and transparent; second, if only a few brands and importers benefit, then where will the competition be in the market?

Experts' advice

Policymakers and economic analysts say that the regulatory authority (BTRC) should have conducted extensive stakeholder consultations and factual observations before formulating the policy.

They also said that any policy that benefits a few big players in the market and ousts small and medium traders from the market will harm consumers and the overall economy of the country in the long run.

“The objective of security and revenue protection is valid, but if the implementation process is not transparent and does not provide open market protection, it will create a new type of market-centric trend,” observes a market analyst.

There are also administrative considerations and pressures

Several former government officials and administrative consultants said that if major regulatory changes are implemented quickly before elections, it can create anxiety among citizens, and it is natural to analyze such decisions in a political context. They reminded that the negative impact on the market and citizens can be greatly reduced if time limits, trial periods and phased implementation are included in the policy-making.

Possible solution steps (suggested by experts and traders)

> Introduce a transparent approval mechanism instead of the BTRC’s NOC policy

> Review the import duty and tax structure to ensure similar competitive rates to neighboring countries and local manufacturers.

> In the interim, hold discussions and public observation periods with all mobile operators in the country Keep.

> Bringing small and medium traders under BTRC import license.

Conclusion

According to the regulatory authority, the goal of implementing NEIR is to protect national security against unregistered and cloned devices and ensure user data protection. But if the necessary stakeholder consultations are not taken on the implementation method and timing of the policy, it can have a huge socio-economic impact due to uncertainty in the market and financial losses.

Analysts believe that it is inevitable to organize a quick discussion by interfacing the relevant agencies (BTRC, NBR, merchant associations and business organizations) at the present time.