BTRC asks Telcos
Refrain from using Bangla Phone services
According to the Telecom Act, BTRC can impose an
administrative fine of Tk 10 lakhs, or above, if any organisation provides or receives illegal services
Staff Reporter
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to take action against telecom operators still availing services from Bangla Phone, as the company does not have permission to provide Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) services anymore.
A letter, issued by BTRC assistant director Raisul Islam on Monday, warned the commission will take action against errant telecom operators, as per provisions under Telecom Act, 2001.
The letter added that telecom operators will have to give an undertaking to BTRCwithin seven daysthat they are not using Bangla Phone services.
According to the Telecom Act, BTRC can impose an administrative fine of Tk 10 lakhs, or above, if any organisation provides or receives illegal services.
The commission can also cancel the licence of such organisation.
The letter was sent to the chief executive officers of mobile phone operators, heads of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), International Terrestrial Cable (ITC), International Internet Gateway (IIG), and National Internet Exchange (NIX). It was also sent to the Internet Service Providers Association Bangladesh (ISPAB), International Internet Gateway Association Bangladesh (IIGAB), and the presidentof IJBA.
Leading mobile phone operator Grameenphone confirmed receiving the letter from BTRC, adding that the company will give the undertaking to BTRC within the deadline. The BTRC letter added that the commission, on August 4, 2009, had issued a permit in favour of Bangla Phone to lease out or share E1, optical fibre, duct or any other telecom infrastructure. The permission was renewed four times and extended till April 22, 2015. However, the commission did not renew the permission beyond April 22, 2015. According to NTTN guidelines, telecom operators can avail optical fibre and other services only from NTTN operators licensed by BTRC.
Currently, Power Grid Company Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB), Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd (BTCL), Bangladesh Railway, Fiber@Home Ltd, and Summit Communication Ltd are the only BTRC-approved NTTN service providers.
BTRC mentioned that it had issued a public circular regarding this issue. Despite that, many organisations were still found to be using services from Bangla Phone. Following this, BTRC issued a further circular on its website and mass media outlets, on February 1. Still, according to BTRC, the commission has noticed instances of using services from Bangla Phone.
Raisul Islam said the commission will not take action against the organisations which are availing services from Bangla Phone according to the Telecom Act.
Earlier, BTRC had asked BanglaPhone, a PSTN and ISP operator, to stop telecom transmission infrastructure services and ordered the company to pay 5.5 per cent of the revenues due, within 10 days of receiving the notice from the regulator.
