Usage Characteristics of Mobile Telecommunication Services: Individual Service Recipient Perspective in Rajshahi District of Bangladesh
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18034/gdeb.v11i1.630Keywords:
Usage Characteristics, Consumer Demographics, Mobile Telecommunication Service, Non-voice Service, BangladeshAbstract
Mobile telecommunication services proved to be a significant part of everyday life for the people of Bangladesh. The study's primary purpose was to examine the usage characteristics of subscribers to know the reality through an empirical study. The research study was descriptive and quantitative in approach to drawing meaningful facts. This study was conducted in the Rajshahi district in the northern region of Bangladesh. The sample size resulted in three hundred and seventy-eight for completing the survey. A simple random sampling technique was used to draw samples from male and female sampling units. The research used a cross-sectional survey design to collect primary data. In addition, the researcher administered a structured questionnaire as a research tool to find out the facts from the individual service recipients. Research findings show that individual service recipients’ usage characteristics influence the service marketing mix and brand equity to achieve a competitive advantage. For example, the study found that consumers are more interested in using services other than voice calls through their affordability does not support it. Moreover, responses from service recipients varied significantly, which becomes a significant challenge for the operators to blend the elements of the marketing mix. This study also shed light on the Inconvenience or problems the recipients face in consuming services. For example, the topmost inconvenience service recipients face is 'poor service quality’ like network interruption, poor quality network, and poor quality video streaming experience. Finally, the study suggests mobile operators in Bangladesh need to trigger a marketing mix by consistently considering the dynamism of usage characteristics of individual service recipients to utilize their marketing investment, increase brand equity, and achieve a significant competitive advantage.
Downloads
References
Afza, S.R. (2015). Measurement of Service Quality in Bangladesh Mobile Phone Sector: Issues, Standards and Practices [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Dhaka.
Aghaei, M, Vahedi, E., Kahreh, M. S. & Pirooz, M. (2014). An examination of the relationship between Services Marketing Mix and Brand Equity Dimensions. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 109, 865 – 869. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.555
Ahsan, M. K. (2017). A Comparative Analysis of Customers’ Satisfaction of Telecommunications Industries: A Reference from Bangladesh. Global Disclosure of Economics and Business, 6(2), 71-84. https://doi.org/10.18034/gdeb.v6i2.118 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/gdeb.v6i2.118
Alam, M. A., Roy, D., & Akther, R. (2016). Consumers’ Expectation and Perception toward Mobile Telecommunication Usage in Bangladesh. Asian Business Review, 6(1), Art. #8, pp. 57-64. https://doi.org/10.18034/abr.v6i1.27 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/abr.v6i1.27
Alam, N., & Rubel, A. K. (2014). Impacts of Corporate Social Responsibility on Customer Satisfaction in Telecom Industry of Bangladesh. ABC Journal of Advanced Research, 3(2), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.18034/abcjar.v3i2.35 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/abcjar.v3i2.35
BTRC. (2019-21). Annual Report. Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC). www.btrc.gov.bd
BTRC. (2020). History of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Annual Report 2019-20. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
Chowdhury, M. D. (2015). Socio-Economic Impacts of Mobile Penetration in SAARC Countries with Special Emphasis on Bangladesh. Asian Business Review, 5(2), 66-71. https://doi.org/10.18034/abr.v5i2.56 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/abr.v5i2.56
Day, G.S. and Wensley, R. (1988). Assessing advantage: a framework for diagnosing competitive superiority. Journal of Marketing, 52(2), 1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/002224298805200201
Dominici, G. (2009). From Marketing Mix to E-Marketing Mix. International of Business and Management, 4(9), 17-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v4n9p17
GSM Association. (2018). Country Overview: Bangladesh, Mobile industry driving growth and enabling digital inclusion. GSMA Intelligence, GSM Association.
GSM Association. (2020). The Mobile Economy. GSMA Intelligence. https://www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/280222-The-Mobile-Economy-2022.pdf
GSMA. (2020). GSMA Intelligence report for Asia pacific region. https://www.gsma.com/
Hoffman, N. P. (2000). An examination of the" sustainable competitive advantage" concept: past, present, and future. Academy of Marketing Science Review, 4, 1-16.
Islam, T., Hoque, R., & Alam, M. (2013). Consumers’ Perception and Performance Appraisal of Mobile Phone Companies in Bangladesh. Global Disclosure of Economics and Business, 2(2), 168-182. https://doi.org/10.18034/gdeb.v2i2.185 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/gdeb.v2i2.185
Keller, K. L. (2003). Strategic Brand Management: Building. Measuring. And Managing brand Equity, 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Delhi: New Age International.
Masud-Ul-Hasan, M. (2016). Factors Affecting Customers Brand Switching Behavior in Mobile Telecommunication Industry: A Study of Pabna District in Bangladesh. Asian Business Review, 6(3), 125-130. https://doi.org/10.18034/abr.v6i3.37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/abr.v6i3.37
Neogy, T. K. (2013). Disclosure Practices of Mobile Telecommunication Companies with Special Reference to Grameenphone Ltd. Global Disclosure of Economics and Business, 2(1), 61-75. https://doi.org/10.18034/gdeb.v2i1.194 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/gdeb.v2i1.194
Neogy, T. K. (2014). Evaluation of the Companies’ Performance: A Study on Mobile Telecommunication Companies in Bangladesh. American Journal of Trade and Policy, 1(2), 79-84. https://doi.org/10.18034/ajtp.v1i2.367 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18034/ajtp.v1i2.367
Schiffman, L. G. & Kanuk, L. L. (2000). Consumer Behavior, 7th ed. (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.).
--0--