Go Broadband services

BTRC cancels GP-Sonali deal

‘Deal illegal as operator violated rules’

Bangladesh Tele­commu­nication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to cancel the contract between the largest mobile operator Grameenphone (GP) and state owned bank Sonali Bank Ltd. Under the contract, GP has been providing Sonali Bank with the Go Broadband services which according to BTRC, is illegal. In a meeting held on June 22, BTRC came up with the observation that GP was giving internet and telecommunication service to Sonali Bank through fixed connection through fiber optics cable violating its license contract with the BTRC, and the rules and regulation of the Telecommunication Act. The telecom regulator will also issue show cause notice to GP within the next one week. GP will be given 30 days for reply, informed the BTRC Chairman Shahjahan Mahmud. The BTRC official informed The Independent that Grameenphone (GP) has violated telecom rules by running ‘Go Broadband’ services for long
Grameenphone, in alliance with ADN Telecom and Agni Systems, offers ‘Go Broadband’ services that provide fibre-optic connections ‘by violating BTRC’s Wi-Max policy guidelines’, the telecoms watchdog said. After a series of scrutiny over the GP explanations regarding the services, the Engineering and Operations Department of the BTRC came up with the observation last week. In a note, the BTRC’s Engineering and Operations Department has also recommended that GP should be slapped with a monetary fine for this ‘severe violation’ of the articles 4.7 and 4.8 of the BTRC guidelines on telecom infrastructures. “The operator cannot share or lease its infrastructure without permission from the regulator. Grameenphone, as a mobile phone operator, cannot provide wire-connectivity. The operator is also providing fibre connectivity, which can only be done by NTTN operators,” a BTRC senior official told The Independent while explaining the nature of the violations by mobile operator Grameenphone.
“It is providing wire technology connectivity to 551 branches of Sonali Bank without obtaining permission from the BTRC. It is also providing modem services what wi-max service providers Qubee and Banglalion do despite obtaining no Wi-Max licence,” he continued. In the latest, GP has clinched a deal with Sonali Bank, the country’s largest state-owned commercial bank, to provide them with the Go Broadband services. The BTRC, in its observation, said that by providing services to 551 branches without involving any NTTN operator and by concealing the information to the BTRC, GP has done a severe blunder of violation of rules. It has been doing the ISP business without obtaining any license for doing this business, BTRC observes. When asked, Brig Gen Iqbal Ahmed, BTRC director general, told The Independent that they sought the operator’s explanations regarding their findings. “Necessary steps will be taken after getting their reply,” Ahmed added. After receiving a complaint, the BTRC, in a letter issued on March 30, pointed out six allegations of irregularities and asked Grameenphone, ADN Telecom and Agni Systems to present their explanations by April 13. Earlier, on February 28, Internet Service Providers Association Bangladesh (ISPAB) submitted the complaint against Grameenphone and its two partners. When contacted, Sayed Talat Kamal, head of External Communications of GP, said, “Agni Systems Ltd and ADN Telecom Ltd, in partnership with Grameenphone, have been offering Go Broadband services with specific approval from the regulator.”

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Go Broadband services

BTRC cancels GP-Sonali deal

Deal illegal as operator violated rules

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to cancel the contract between the largest mobile operator Grameenphone (GP) and state owned bank Sonali Bank Ltd. Under the contract, GP has been providing Sonali Bank with the Go Broadband services which according to BTRC, is illegal. In a meeting held on June 22, BTRC came up with the observation that GP was giving internet and telecommunication service to Sonali Bank through fixed connection through fiber optics cable violating its license contract with the BTRC, and the rules and regulation of the Telecommunication Act. The telecom regulator will also issue show cause notice to GP within the next one week. GP will be given 30 days for reply, informed the BTRC Chairman Shahjahan Mahmud. The BTRC official informed The Independent that Grameenphone (GP) has violated telecom rules by running Go Broadband services for long Grameenphone, in alliance with ADN Telecom and Agni Systems, offers Go Broadband services that provide fibre-optic connections by violating BTRCs Wi-Max policy guidelines, the telecoms watchdog said. After a series of scrutiny over the GP explanations regarding the services, the Engineering and Operations Department of the BTRC came up with the observation last week. In a note, the BTRCs Engineering and Operations Department has also recommended that GP should be slapped with a monetary fine for this severe violation of the articles 4.7 and 4.8 of the BTRC guidelines on telecom infrastructures. The operator cannot share or lease its infrastructure without permission from the regulator. Grameenphone, as a mobile phone operator, cannot provide wire-connectivity. The operator is also providing fibre connectivity, which can only be done by NTTN operators, a BTRC senior official told The Independent while explaining the nature of the violations by mobile operator Grameenphone. It is providing wire technology connectivity to 551 branches of Sonali Bank without obtaining permission from the BTRC. It is also providing modem services what wi-max service providers Qubee and Banglalion do despite obtaining no Wi-Max licence, he continued. In the latest, GP has clinched a deal with Sonali Bank, the countrys largest state-owned commercial bank, to provide them with the Go Broadband services. The BTRC, in its observation, said that by providing services to 551 branches without involving any NTTN operator and by concealing the information to the BTRC, GP has done a severe blunder of violation of rules. It has been doing the ISP business without obtaining any license for doing this business, BTRC observes. When asked, Brig Gen Iqbal Ahmed, BTRC director general, told The Independent that they sought the operators explanations regarding their findings. Necessary steps will be taken after getting their reply, Ahmed added. After receiving a complaint, the BTRC, in a letter issued on March 30, pointed out six allegations of irregularities and asked Grameenphone, ADN Telecom and Agni Systems to present their explanations by April 13. Earlier, on February 28, Internet Service Providers Association Bangladesh (ISPAB) submitted the complaint against Grameenphone and its two partners. When contacted, Sayed Talat Kamal, head of External Communications of GP, said, Agni Systems Ltd and ADN Telecom Ltd, in partnership with Grameenphone, have been offering Go Broadband services with specific approval from the regulator. Related News: Grameenphone reluctant to provide MNP services to subscribers(12-06-2015) GPs illegal business(18-06-2015) DRU accuses GP of cheating(23-06-2015) GP ghost bills(28-06-2015) GP seeks until Tuesday to fix problem(05-07-2015) NBR seeks bank statements of Grammeenphone(04-08-2015) VIPs SIM cards cloned(17-09-2015) Telcos ride on fake ID cards(20-09-2015) BTRC to start auditing GP on October 20(07-10-2015) Ministers vent spleen on GP service(15-10-2015) GP under renewed fire from telecoms minister(20-10-2015) GP under ACC probe(27-11-2015) GP deprives railways of Tk 81cr a year: CAG(05-01-2016) BTRC orders GP not to hinder audit process(11-02-2016) BTRC seeks explanation from GP, ADN, Agni(04-04-2016) GP clarification(05-04-2016) Five GP staff among 11 arrested over SIM cloning (20-04-2016) GP, ADN, Agni submit explanation (20-04-2016) GP denies, CID remains firm (21-04-2016) BTRC seeks explanation from GP, ADN, Agni again (30-04-2016) Grameenphone Go Broadband illegal (31-05-16) GP, Airtel to be fine (10-06-16)