BTRC awaits security forces’ nod

The Bangladesh Tele-communication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said it will not approve Banglalink’s base transceiver stations (BTSs), popularly known as mobile towers, set up near the border areas, until getting a clearance from security forces.
The telecom regulator has written to the border security forces for their opinion on the issue. 
“The permission will be given only if the security forces give a positive response. Otherwise, Banglalink will have to remove all the mobile towers set up in the border areas,” BTRC chairman Shajahan Mahmood told The Independent.
Although Banglalink had set up the towers in 2013, it sought approval from the BTRC on June 22, 2016.
Prior to that, the BTRC did not have any knowledge of the Banglalink mobile towers set up near the border.
Mahmood said the operator has set up 433 mobile towers in border areas without permission from the BTRC. “According to BTRC rules, a telecom operator needs a no-objection certificate from security forces as well as permission from the telecom regulator to set up a BTS within eight km from the border. In this case, the operator has violated both the rules,” he added.
According to the minutes of the 201st meeting of the commission, it’s a security threat to set up a BTS in border areas without permission from the authorities concerned.
According to BTRC insiders, it was not expected that Banglalink would set up mobile towers in border areas by violating the rules willingly. “It is necessary to take action against Banglalink for the offence, otherwise it will set a bad precedent for other operators,” said a senior BTRC official on condition of anonymity.
“The telecom operator has previous record of committing irregularities and ignoring BTRC rules,” the official added.
However, the commission did not take any action against Banglalink till now.
When asked why Banglink had applied to the BTRC seeking approval for its towers that were set up years ago, the operator declined to make any comment. 

 

BTRC awaits security forces nod

The Bangladesh Tele-communication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said it will not approve Banglalinks base transceiver stations (BTSs), popularly known as mobile towers, set up near the border areas, until getting a clearance from security forces. The telecom regulator has written to the border security forces for their opinion on the issue. The permission will be given only if the security forces give a positive response. Otherwise, Banglalink will have to remove all the mobile towers set up in the border areas, BTRC chairman Shajahan Mahmood told The Independent. Although Banglalink had set up the towers in 2013, it sought approval from the BTRC on June 22, 2016. Prior to that, the BTRC did not have any knowledge of the Banglalink mobile towers set up near the border. Mahmood said the operator has set up 433 mobile towers in border areas without permission from the BTRC. According to BTRC rules, a telecom operator needs ano-objection certificate from security forces as well as permission from the telecom regulator to set up a BTS within eight km from the border. In this case, the operator has violated both the rules, he added. According to the minutes of the 201st meeting of the commission, its a security threat to set up a BTS in border areas without permission from the authorities concerned. According to BTRC insiders, it was not expected that Banglalink would set up mobile towers in border areas by violating the ruleswillingly. It is necessary to take action against Banglalink for the offence, otherwise it will set a bad precedent for other operators, said a senior BTRC official on condition of anonymity. The telecom operator has previous record of committing irregularities and ignoring BTRC rules, the official added. However, the commission did not take any action against Banglalink till now. When asked why Banglink had applied to the BTRC seeking approval for its towers that were set up years ago, the operator declined to make any comment.