MNP auction still uncertain

On September 20, BTRC suspended the auction for MNP licence scheduled for September 28

The auction of mobile number portability (MNP) looms under uncertainty, even in the last commission meeting of BTRC the matter was not discussed.  The auction for MNP may not even happen this year. 

BTRC Chairman, Shahjahan Mahmood, assured The Independent that even though there is a delay at the moment but the whole process will start soon. Though, he did not share any information about a particular time for the MNP auction.   
Earlier on September 20, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) had 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.
Earlier on 5 September, the BTRC rescheduled the auction for 28 September instead of original date of 21 September.
The names of the five qualified bidders for the much-awaited auction of mobile number portability (MNP) were announced then.
According to 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—were qualified for participating in the MNP auction to be held on September 28. 
In this regard, an announcement signed by MA Taleb Hossain, director licencing, BTRC, was posted on the telecom regulators website. 
A total of six joint venture (JV) firms had submitted bidding proposals to be the MNP operator till the final day on August 22 although 18 bidding documents were sold. As per the previous roadmap, September 5 was fixed to announce the name of qualified bidders, but the telecom regulator suddenly brought some changes in the roadmap and set September 7 as the new date for it.
Once the service is launched, any subscriber can switch operator of his or her choice with a fee of Tk 30 and the subscriber has to stay with the chosen operator for at least ninety days. 
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,” said the BTRC chairman.
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 filed 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 but 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.

MNP auction still uncertain

On September 20, BTRC suspended the auction for MNP licence scheduled for September 28

The auction of mobile number portability (MNP) looms under uncertainty, even in the last commission meeting of BTRC the matter was not discussed. The auction for MNP may not even happen this year. BTRC Chairman, Shahjahan Mahmood, assured The Independent that even though there is a delay at the moment but the whole process will start soon. Though, he did not share any information about a particular time for the MNP auction. Earlier on September 20, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) had 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. Earlier on 5 September, the BTRC rescheduled the auction for 28 September instead of original date of 21 September. The names of the five qualified bidders for the much-awaited auction of mobile number portability (MNP) were announced then. According to 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 Norwaywere qualified for participating in the MNP auction to be held on September 28. In this regard, an announcement signed by MA Taleb Hossain, director licencing, BTRC, was posted on the telecom regulators website. A total of six joint venture (JV) firms had submitted bidding proposals to be the MNP operator till the final day on August 22 although 18 bidding documents were sold. As per the previous roadmap, September 5 was fixed to announce the name of qualified bidders, but the telecom regulator suddenly brought some changes in the roadmap and set September 7 as the new date for it. Once the service is launched, any subscriber can switch operator of his or her choice with a fee of Tk 30 and the subscriber has to stay with the chosen operator for at least ninety days. 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, said the BTRC chairman. 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 filed 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 but 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.