Go Broadband

BTRC issues show cause notice on GP

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday issued a show cause notice on mobile operator Grameenphone (GP), asking its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to cite reasons behind its breaching of telecom laws and the clauses in the licensing agreement.

The telecom regulator asked the largest operator of Bangladesh to get back to the BTRC with written answers about its Go Broadband service, which it launched illegally flouting the telecom laws.

The show cause notice was signed by SM Golam Sorwar, Senior Assistant Director, (Legal and Licensing Division) of the BTRC.

Sorwar said as per the provisions of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 (Act, 2001) and the terms and conditions of the license, GP is obligated to perform the duties and responsibilities and to provide services in the manner stated in the-Act, 2001 and the licenses.

GP is also bound to follow the provisions of the act, related regulations and the conditions of directives/instructions /permit/guidelines/orders/circulars/decisions etc. and such conditions as may be imposed by the Commission from time to time. But GP has failed to comply with these obligations, the show cause letter added.

Therefore, the Compassion believes that GP has contravened the conditions of the aforementioned licenses and the Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) guidelines and the Infrastructure Sharing Guidelines read with sections 35 and 73 of the Act, 2001.

In the letter, it was written that the above telecom services were provided by GP to Sonali Bank Ltd beyond the purview of GP’s 2G and 3G licenses. As such GP has violated the condition Nos. 4.02 and 4.03 of 2G and 3G licenses respectively.'

BTRC mentioned in the letter that according to the provisions of NTTN guidelines, no person or business entity shall be allowed to develop, build, operate and maintain NTTN without a valid License issued by the Commission. As such GP has violated the condition No. 3.01 of the NTTN guidelines.

Also according to the condition Nos. 4.7 and 4.8 of the Infrastructure Sharing Guidelines, cellular mobile phone operators will not be permitted to build optical/wired backbone transmission network, if such networks of NTTN operators are already available there. But GP building and using optical/ wired transmission network to provide services to Sonali Bank Ltd by violating all those conditions.'

As per the letter, that GP has failed to comply with the relevant guidelines and directions and/or directives of the Commission on Infrastructure and facility sharing. As such GP has violated the condition Nos. 10.01, 10.02, 23.01 and 23.02 of the 2G and 3G Licenses respectively.

When contacted, head of external communications of GP Sayed Talat Kamal said, “We have received the notice and will provide our response accordingly.”

Past records of GP

GP was fined on two occasions in 2007 and 2008 for offering illegal VoIP services, compelling the company to pay Tk 418 crore to the telecoms regulator. Following the VoIP scam, GP top management had to go through a major reshuffle to retain its licence to operate in Bangladesh.

GP ownership structure

GP is a joint venture between Telenor (55.8%), the largest telecommunications service provider in Norway having mobile phone operations in 12 other countries, and Grameen Telecom Corporation (34.2%), a non-profit organisation of Bangladesh. The other 10 per cent shares belong to retail and institutional investors.

 

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Grameenphone reluctant to provide MNP services to subscribers (12-06-2015)

GP’s illegal business (18-06-2015)

DRU accuses GP of ‘cheating’ (23-06-2015)

GP ghost bills (28-06-2015)

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NBR seeks bank statements of Grammeenphone (04-08-2015)

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Ministers vent spleen on GP service  (15-10-2015)

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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)

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GP denies, CID remains firm (21-04-2016)

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Go Broadband

BTRC issues show cause notice on GP

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday issued a show cause notice on mobile operator Grameenphone (GP), asking its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to cite reasons behind its breaching of telecom laws and the clauses in the licensing agreement. The telecom regulator asked the largest operator of Bangladesh to get back to the BTRC with written answers about its Go Broadband service, which it launched illegally flouting the telecom laws. The show cause notice was signed by SM Golam Sorwar, Senior Assistant Director, (Legal and Licensing Division) of the BTRC. Sorwar said as per the provisions of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 (Act, 2001) and the terms and conditions of the license, GP is obligated to perform the duties and responsibilities and to provide services in the manner stated in the-Act, 2001 and the licenses. GP is also bound to follow the provisions of the act, related regulations and the conditions of directives/instructions /permit/guidelines/orders/circulars/decisions etc. and such conditions as may be imposed by the Commission from time to time. But GP has failed to comply with these obligations, the show cause letter added. Therefore, the Compassion believes that GP has contravened the conditions of the aforementioned licenses and the Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) guidelines and the Infrastructure Sharing Guidelines read with sections 35 and 73 of the Act, 2001. In the letter, it was written that the above telecom services were provided by GP to Sonali Bank Ltd beyond the purview of GPs 2G and 3G licenses. As such GP has violated the condition Nos. 4.02 and 4.03 of 2G and 3G licenses respectively. BTRC mentioned in the letter that according to the provisions of NTTN guidelines, no person or business entity shall be allowed to develop, build, operate and maintain NTTN without a valid License issued by the Commission. As such GP has violated the condition No. 3.01 of the NTTN guidelines. Also according to the condition Nos. 4.7 and 4.8 of the Infrastructure Sharing Guidelines, cellular mobile phone operators will not be permitted to build optical/wired backbone transmission network, if such networks of NTTN operators are already available there. But GP building and using optical/ wired transmission network to provide services to Sonali Bank Ltd by violating all those conditions. As per the letter, that GP has failed to comply with the relevant guidelines and directions and/or directives of the Commission on Infrastructure and facility sharing. As such GP has violated the condition Nos. 10.01, 10.02, 23.01 and 23.02 of the 2G and 3G Licenses respectively. When contacted, head of external communications of GP Sayed Talat Kamal said, We have received the notice and will provide our response accordingly. Past records of GP GP was fined on two occasions in 2007 and 2008 for offering illegal VoIP services, compelling the company to pay Tk 418 crore to the telecoms regulator. Following the VoIP scam, GP top management had to go through a major reshuffle to retain its licence to operate in Bangladesh. GP ownership structure GP is a joint venture between Telenor (55.8%), the largest telecommunications service provider in Norway having mobile phone operations in 12 other countries, and Grameen Telecom Corporation (34.2%), a non-profit organisation of Bangladesh. The other 10 per cent shares belong to retail and institutional investors. 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) BTRC cancels GP-Sonali deal (24-06-16)