Apps spell doom for int’l call operators
Number of inbound phone calls plunges amid rising popularity of WhatsApp, Imo, Viber
International incoming call operators may soon become a thing of the past in Bangladesh because of the increasing use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Imo, Viber, and Facebook Messenger.
Although the cost of calls per minute has declined over the years, the number of inbound international calls is decreasing due to the growing popularity of social media apps as they are relatively cost-effective and offer various features, including video calls.
The number of international incoming call minutes fell 9.43 per cent year-on-year to 852.31 crore last year. The decline is about 50 per cent compared to 2018, when it was about 1,625.30 crore minutes, according to a report of the International Gateway Operators Forum, an association of the international gateway operators (IGWs).