TVAS registration must for telcom operators: BTRC

Telecom operators will be punished if they do not have registration certificates for providing telecommunication value added services (TVAS), the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has said. Mobile phone operators must have TVAS registration to provide service, according to the decision of the latest BTRC meeting presided by the commission chairman, Jahurul Haque.

On January 9, the BTRC had issued letters to mobile phone operators informing them that according to the Regulatory Guidelines for Issuance of Registration Certificate for Providing TVAS, they will have to take registration certificates by submitting the necessary documents and fees within 10 working days.

Responding to the BTRC’s directive on January 21, Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink had said that mobile phone operators were authorized to provide TVAS in accordance with their licences. So, there was no need for mobile phone operators to individually obtain registration certificate for TVAS, they had added.

The regulatory guidelines for issuance of registration certificate for providing TVAS in Bangladesh states: “According to the license conditions, cellular mobile phone operators (CMPO) are eligible for providing TVAS. After issuing of this guideline, they are also be entitled as ‘CMPO-TVASP’ and allowed to provide TVAS within their own network only, following all terms & conditions mentioned in this guideline.”

A senior official of a telecom operator told The Independent that they had received the BTRC letter issued in this regard earlier this year and responded to it. “We were interested in a discussion. Letter, we held a meeting with the regulator and a decision was taken that the commission would consider the matter thoroughly,” the official said requesting anonymity.

Now, according to the commission meeting, the telecom operators must have registration for the service. However, the commission has not yet fixed a deadline for the same.

The BTRC chairman said: “We want that the mobile phone operators will take the TVAS registration fast. The operators will also have to stop buying the services of TVAS service providers without a certificate. A notice in this regard will be issued soon,”

BTRC had finalised the guideline to bring the valued added service providers under its regulatory framework. The telecom ministry also gave its approval in this regard.

According to the

TVAS guideline issued on March 28, some 42 companies have so far received registration certificates for the service.

TVAS registration must for telcom operators: BTRC

Telecom operators will be punished if they do not have registration certificates for providing telecommunication value added services (TVAS), the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has said. Mobile phone operators must have TVAS registration to provide service, according to the decision of the latest BTRC meeting presided by the commission chairman, Jahurul Haque. On January 9, the BTRC had issued letters to mobile phone operators informing them that according to the Regulatory Guidelines for Issuance of Registration Certificate for Providing TVAS, they will have to take registration certificates by submitting the necessary documents and fees within 10 working days. Responding to the BTRCs directive on January 21, Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink had said that mobile phone operators were authorized to provide TVAS in accordance with their licences. So, there was no need for mobile phone operators to individually obtain registration certificate for TVAS, they had added. The regulatory guidelines for issuance of registration certificate for providing TVAS in Bangladesh states: According to the license conditions, cellular mobile phone operators (CMPO) are eligible for providing TVAS. After issuing of this guideline, they are also be entitled as CMPO-TVASP and allowed to provide TVAS within their own network only, following all terms conditions mentioned in this guideline. A senior official of a telecom operator told The Independent that they had received the BTRC letter issued in this regard earlier this year and responded to it. We were interested in a discussion. Letter, we held a meeting with the regulator and a decision was taken that the commission would consider the matter thoroughly, the official said requesting anonymity. Now, according to the commission meeting, the telecom operators must have registration for the service. However, the commission has not yet fixed a deadline for the same. The BTRC chairman said: We want that the mobile phone operators will take the TVAS registration fast. The operators will also have to stop buying the services of TVAS service providers without a certificate. A notice in this regard will be issued soon, BTRC had finalised the guideline to bring the valued added service providers under its regulatory framework. The telecom ministry also gave its approval in this regard. According to the TVAS guideline issued on March 28, some 42 companies have so far received registration certificates for the service.