MNP service likely early next year
Quality of services will get better after MNP is launched
Dr Shahjahan Mahmood
BTRC Chairman
Tareque Moretaza
The much-talked about mobile number portability (MNP) service is likely to be launched early next year.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood yesterday told The Independent that We are optimistic about launching the MNP service early next year which in turn will improve the quality of services.
MNP is a service that allows subscribers to switch operators by keeping their current numbers.
Once the MNP service is launched the market will be more competitive for the operators as they would try tobring in new subscribers and also try to keep their existing ones, Dr Shahjahan Mahmood said.
Earlier on November 9, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Com-mission in its last commission meeting decided to make minor changes
to the guidelines of mobile number portability (MNP) before holdingthe auction.
The regulator at that time, however, said it would not be possible to launch MNP services within this year.
When asked about the decision regarding the five firms who have been qualified to participate in the MNP auction, BTRC chairman said: We had found some problems in the clearance reports of the companies by intelligence agencies. The regulator will announce its decision regarding the companies after the changes in MNP guidelines.
Earlier, BTRC 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. According
to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (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 Norwayhave been qualified for participating in the upcoming MNP auction.
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, the BTRC chairman said earlier.
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.
