curtailment of GP, Robi bandwidth
BTRC rules out arbitration to settle dispute
STAFF REPORTER, Dhaka
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday ruled out any possibility of arbitration under the existing law over its recent action against top two telecom operators of the country. BTRC chairman Jahrul Haque said as per the Telecom Act, there is no scope of arbitration.
On Thursday, the telecom regulator partially blocked the bandwidth capacity of Grameenphone (GP) and Robi for non-payment of dues detected in audits. Experts termed this as an unprecedented and drastic step which will ultimately hurt the 12.25 crore subscribers of the two operators.
According to the BTRCs audit claim, GP has Tk. 12,579.95 crore pending and Robi Tk. 867.24 crore.
The BTRC had asked to reduce the GPs bandwidth capacity by 30 per cent and Robis bandwidth capacity by 15 per cent. Immediately after the BTRCs move, GP served a notice of arbitration to the BTRC, inviting the regulator for a constructive arbitration process to resolve the disputed audit claim.
Failing to get any positive reply, GP yesterday voiced its concern at a press conference and protested against the BTRC directive to the IIG operators in Bangladesh to reduce their international internet bandwidth to Grameenphone by 30 per cent.
Speaking at the press conference held at a city hotel, GP CEO Michael Foley said: The directive adds a burden to Bangledeshi people and businesses. We request the BTRC to withdraw the referenced directives and cooperate in resolving the disputed audit demand through a constructive arbitration process under the Arbitration Act, 2001.
The GP has been continuously iterating that a constructive relationship with the regulator based on common visions and goals is required to realise the Digital Bangladesh ambition. There is a need for clear guidelines and a framework that is fair, transparent and adheres to the laws of Bangladesh, Foley added.
Pointing out that Grameenphone is a compliant company, Foley said GP has been the largest corporate taxpayer in the country since 2015. While the directive is not addressed to Grameenphone, the BTRC has publicly stated that the bandwidth capacity will remain blocked until Grameenphone pays the disputed audit demand. The BTRC directive is specially designed to put pressure on the operator by negatively impacting customer experience on the operators network. The directive would also have a negative consequence for local business communities and for the affected IIGs as they would lose potential revenue and business opportunities for a situation totally outside their control, said a Grameenphone official.
The operator asserted that it was very unfortunate that directives to the IIG operators were given in an attempt by the regulator to pressurise GP to pay a disputed audit claim. The telecom operator believes that this move is illegal and the company will seek intervention of the court against this decision of the regulator.
Robi CEO Mahtab Uddin Ahmed told The Independent that arbitration is a good way of resolving any dispute in the telecom sector. Telecom regulators around the world follow the method of arbitration, he said.
Talking with The Independent, telecom expert TIM Nurul Kabir said the BTRC can create roadblocks for telecom operators if they do not comply with the BTRC directives. But reducing bandwidth will hurt the services of the telecom operators and ultimately hurt the subscribers. The BTRC should find other ways to settle the issue, he said.
