Robi-Airtel merger

Focus on job security, subscribers� interest

First public hearing held

Speakers at a public hearing here on the proposed Robi-Airtel merger stressed protecting the interests of employees and clients of the two telecom operators following the  merger.
They also recommended cautions to ensure that no monopoly is established as an outcome as the two telecom operators will enjoy a customer base of about four crore, one-third of the total mobile users in Bangladesh.
Representatives from different government, semi-autonomous and autonomous agencies, telecommunication service providers, mobile phone users, consumers and professionals came up with their opinions participating in the public hearing on the merger, held at the conference room of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood yesterday in the public hearing said that as there is no particular guideline to merger thus Bangladesh Telecommuniation Regulatory Commision (BTRC) had taken four steps for the merger of Robi- Airtel.  
On the public hearing yesterday, 34 people out of 98 people opined. 28 were on behalf of the merger. 5 opined on conditional basis and 1 opined about whether this merger will be harmful for the Airtel employees.
BTRC head said that to create level playing field four steps were taken prior to the merger. First step was to find the impact level of this merger, thus the responsibility was given to two professors. Second step was to hear the opinions to other four operators about the merger, E-mail comments and the public hearing was the third. On the fourth step BTRC will review all the comments and the high level commision will recommend that and after that it will be send to the telecommunication ministry.
The hearing was held at the BTRC`s Telecom Conference room. At the start of the public hearing the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) advisor Samsul Alam told them to refrain from speech. However, after the statement from their defense lawyer Barrister Anik R Haque statement a debate started between the representatives of the CAB.
Barrister Anik R Haque spectrum is a national asset rather than consumer aspect, if the wealth is in the hands of Robi that would not be right to go.
He said with the merger of the two operators, employees should be assured of their jobs. Vountary leave after one year employment guarantee scheme, BTRC would have to assure that as well.
Yusuf Ali's lawyer of the CAB said  “we have seen CV of the people conducting survey for the impact study . Some of them do not have experience in this. We think such survey should have been conducted by foreign companies who have experience on this kind of merger impact study.
He said  after the merger of Robi- Airtel merger 96 per cent of the market share will go the three companies Robi, Banglalink and Grameenphone, which in turn is a warning bell of monopoly.
Barrister Fatema Anwar said though BTRC plays a key role for the merger but the ultimate decision  will be taken in Court. Only in accordance with the law stands, however, say that the BTRC merger of the two business organisations are eligible. Since Airtel and Robi telecom business licenses, so there are suppose to be no confusion.
However, since the regulator held pubic hearing, it will help to ensure transparency and accountability.
On the public hearing there were talks about the quality of service, Airtel staff employee job guarantees and spectrum management.
BTRC chairman said, no one job will be sacked ; It has been confirmed. As  regulator we will ensure that we have the Edge.
The full study of the programme is very complicated and time-consuming, so the Commission is divided into study programs Surveys regarding the technical aspects of management responsibilities. ABM Siddique Hossain, professor and dean, Faculty of Engineering, the American International University of Bangladesh and socio-economic issues, technical issues, without the responsibility of conducting the survey. M Rahman,  professor of international business department, the University of Dhaka led the two teams.
BTRC chairman said, we are taking the opinion of the hearing, in addition to the e-mail. So far we have received more than hundred views. We will include all of them.

Robi-Airtel merger

Focus on job security, subscribers� interest

First public hearing held

Speakers at a public hearing here on the proposed Robi-Airtel merger stressed protecting the interests of employees and clients of the two telecom operators following the merger. They also recommended cautions to ensure that no monopoly is established as an outcome as the two telecom operators will enjoy a customer base of about four crore, one-third of the total mobile users in Bangladesh. Representatives from different government, semi-autonomous and autonomous agencies, telecommunication service providers, mobile phone users, consumers and professionals came up with their opinions participating in the public hearing on the merger, held at the conference room of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC). BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood yesterday in the public hearing said that as there is no particular guideline to merger thus Bangladesh Telecommuniation Regulatory Commision (BTRC) had taken four steps for the merger of Robi- Airtel. On the public hearing yesterday, 34 people out of 98 people opined. 28 were on behalf of the merger. 5 opined on conditional basis and 1 opined about whether this merger will be harmful for the Airtel employees. BTRC head said that to create level playing field four steps were taken prior to the merger. First step was to find the impact level of this merger, thus the responsibility was given to two professors. Second step was to hear the opinions to other four operators about the merger, E-mail comments and the public hearing was the third. On the fourth step BTRC will review all the comments and the high level commision will recommend that and after that it will be send to the telecommunication ministry. The hearing was held at the BTRC`s Telecom Conference room. At the start of the public hearing the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) advisor Samsul Alam told them to refrain from speech. However, after the statement from their defense lawyer Barrister Anik R Haque statement a debate started between the representatives of the CAB. Barrister Anik R Haque spectrum is a national asset rather than consumer aspect, if the wealth is in the hands of Robi that would not be right to go. He said with the merger of the two operators, employees should be assured of their jobs. Vountary leave after one year employment guarantee scheme, BTRC would have to assure that as well. Yusuf Alis lawyer of the CAB said we have seen CV of the people conducting survey for the impact study . Some of them do not have experience in this. We think such survey should have been conducted by foreign companies who have experience on this kind of merger impact study. He said after the merger of Robi- Airtel merger 96 per cent of the market share will go the three companies Robi, Banglalink and Grameenphone, which in turn is a warning bell of monopoly. Barrister Fatema Anwar said though BTRC plays a key role for the merger but the ultimate decision will be taken in Court. Only in accordance with the law stands, however, say that the BTRC merger of the two business organisations are eligible. Since Airtel and Robi telecom business licenses, so there are suppose to be no confusion. However, since the regulator held pubic hearing, it will help to ensure transparency and accountability. On the public hearing there were talks about the quality of service, Airtel staff employee job guarantees and spectrum management. BTRC chairman said, no one job will be sacked ; It has been confirmed. As regulator we will ensure that we have the Edge. The full study of the programme is very complicated and time-consuming, so the Commission is divided into study programs Surveys regarding the technical aspects of management responsibilities. ABM Siddique Hossain, professor and dean, Faculty of Engineering, the American International University of Bangladesh and socio-economic issues, technical issues, without the responsibility of conducting the survey. M Rahman, professor of international business department, the University of Dhaka led the two teams. BTRC chairman said, we are taking the opinion of the hearing, in addition to the e-mail. So far we have received more than hundred views. We will include all of them.