Mobile subscribers to enjoy the MNP service‘before June’

Mobile phone subscribers will have the privilege to switch to other operators keeping their existing phone numbers before June. MNP operator has already started the process to initiate the service. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood when contacted on Sunday said the subscribers will get the benefit before the middle of the year.  

Earlier on November 9, Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission in its last commission meeting decided to make minor changes to the guidelines of mobile number portability (MNP) before holding the auction.

The regulator at that time, however, said it would not be possible to launch MNP services within this year.

When asked about the decision regarding the five firms who have been qualified to participate in the MNP auction, BTRC chairman said: “We had found some problems in the clearance reports of the companies by intelligence agencies”. The regulator will announce its decision regarding the companies after the changes in MNP guidelines.  

Earlier, BTRC suspended its auction for Mobile Number Portability (MNP) licence scheduled for 28 September.

In a notice published on its website on September 20, the telecom regulatory body said it has decided to suspend the overall proceedings of MNP service licence auction due to unavoidable circumstances.

It also said new date for the auction will be published later. According to Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission (BTRC) -- REVE Number Limited with T4B Sp z.o.o of Poland, Greentech International Limited with MEDIAFON of Lithunia, Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium Limited with Teletech d.o.o of Slovenia, Agile Technology Solution Limited with Clear Tech of Brazil and Roots Infotech Limited with Systor Group of Norway—have been qualified for participating in the upcoming MNP auction.

Earlier on June 14, BTRC chairman made the announcement of the MNP auction roadmap.

“The base price for the auction would be Tk 1 crore and bid earnest money has been set Tk 10 lakh while application fee at Tk 1 lakh and annual license fee at Tk 20 lakh,” the BTRC chairman said earlier.

The licence would be issued primarily to an operator for 15 years which would be renewed for another 5 year upon the approval of government and the operator has to deposit Tk 1 crore as bank guarantee.

The applicant must have at least three years experience in this field along with providing service to minimum 1 crore subscribers to be awarded the license.

The operator has to share 5.5 per cent revenue with the government from the second year of the licence.

Any Bangladeshi or expatriate Bangladeshi owned company registered in the country was eligible to bid in the auction and foreign companies having partnership with Bangladeshi one could also take part in the auction.

The foreign companies, however, can hold as high as 51 per cent share, and the company must invest in foreign currency and they could get no chance to mobilise fund from Bangladeshi market.

 

Mobile subscribers to enjoy the MNP servicebefore June

Mobile phone subscribers will have the privilege to switch to other operators keeping their existing phone numbers before June. MNP operator has already started the process to initiate the service. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood when contacted on Sunday said the subscribers will get the benefit before the middle of the year. Earlier on November 9, Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission in its last commission meeting decided to make minor changes to the guidelines of mobile number portability (MNP) before holding the auction. The regulator at that time, however, said it would not be possible to launch MNP services within this year. When asked about the decision regarding the five firms who have been qualified to participate in the MNP auction, BTRC chairman said: We had found some problems in the clearance reports of the companies by intelligence agencies. The regulator will announce its decision regarding the companies after the changes in MNP guidelines. Earlier, BTRC suspended its auction for Mobile Number Portability (MNP) licence scheduled for 28 September. In a notice published on its website on September 20, the telecom regulatory body said it has decided to suspend the overall proceedings of MNP service licence auction due to unavoidable circumstances. It also said new date for the auction will be published later. According to Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission (BTRC) -- REVE Number Limited with T4B Sp z.o.o of Poland, Greentech International Limited with MEDIAFON of Lithunia, Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium Limited with Teletech d.o.o of Slovenia, Agile Technology Solution Limited with Clear Tech of Brazil and Roots Infotech Limited with Systor Group of Norwayhave been qualified for participating in the upcoming MNP auction. Earlier on June 14, BTRC chairman made the announcement of the MNP auction roadmap. The base price for the auction would be Tk 1 crore and bid earnest money has been set Tk 10 lakh while application fee at Tk 1 lakh and annual license fee at Tk 20 lakh, the BTRC chairman said earlier. The licence would be issued primarily to an operator for 15 years which would be renewed for another 5 year upon the approval of government and the operator has to deposit Tk 1 crore as bank guarantee. The applicant must have at least three years experience in this field along with providing service to minimum 1 crore subscribers to be awarded the license. The operator has to share 5.5 per cent revenue with the government from the second year of the licence. Any Bangladeshi or expatriate Bangladeshi owned company registered in the country was eligible to bid in the auction and foreign companies having partnership with Bangladeshi one could also take part in the auction. The foreign companies, however, can hold as high as 51 per cent share, and the company must invest in foreign currency and they could get no chance to mobilise fund from Bangladeshi market.