BTRC issues ultimatum to Robi for failing to meet merger conditions

The telecom regulator, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (BTRC), has issued an ultimatum to mobile phone operator Robi for failing to meet some conditions of the recently approved Robi and Airtel merger.

On February 12, the telecom regulator in a letter asked the operator to meet six conditions of the merger within ten days. If the conditions are not fulfilled necessary legal action will be taken against the operator, the letter also said.
According to merger conditions 12 and 16, the operator was supposed to pay Tk 427 crore and 35 lakh as spectrum charge and merger fee. Of the amount, Robi has already paid Tk 318 crore 32 lakh and rest is yet to be paid.
According to condition 15, it was also supposed to surrender Airtel’s 5 megahertz spectrum, but Robi did not do that. 
Also, condition 3 requires the operator to pay all dues to government, commission, any person and organisation, but Robi has not submitted any documentation of these payments.
, in reply to the BTRC letter, Robi in a letter said that BTRC’s claim on failing to meet the merger conditions are not reasonable as the operator has already submitted necessary documents on meeting the conditions. 
Barrister Arshaful Hadi, an expert on telecom and company law, said according to Telecom Act 2001, in the merger, BTRC will ensure if the companies involved are operating as one company and that company is eligible to get telecom licence.
BTRC cannot take any step which can contradict with the court order, he added. When contacted, Robi refused to make any comment in this regard.
However, a BTRC senior official said that the regulator has already received answers from Robi. The next step will be taken after reviewing the matter, he added.
After receiving documentation with evidence of meeting the required conditions, the ‘order of merger of licence’ will be issued, the BTRC letter said.
But, Robi and Airtel have started operating together since November 17, 2016.
BTRC on October 26, 2016 approved the merger with 21 conditions. The approval letter said that the operator should submit documentation of meeting the conditions.

BTRC issues ultimatum to Robi for failing to meet merger conditions

The telecom regulator, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (BTRC), has issued an ultimatum to mobile phone operator Robi for failing to meet some conditions of the recently approved Robi and Airtel merger. On February 12, the telecom regulator in a letter asked the operator to meet six conditions of the merger within ten days. If the conditions are not fulfilled necessary legal action will be taken against the operator, the letter also said. According to merger conditions 12 and 16, the operator was supposed to pay Tk 427 crore and 35 lakh as spectrum charge and merger fee. Of the amount, Robi has already paid Tk 318 crore 32 lakh and rest is yet to be paid. According to condition 15, it was also supposed to surrender Airtels 5 megahertz spectrum, but Robi did not do that. Also, condition 3 requires the operator to pay all dues to government, commission, any person and organisation, but Robi has not submitted any documentation of these payments. , in reply to the BTRC letter, Robi in a letter said that BTRCs claim on failing to meet the merger conditions are not reasonable as the operator has already submitted necessary documents on meeting the conditions. Barrister Arshaful Hadi, an expert on telecom and company law, said according to Telecom Act 2001, in the merger, BTRC will ensure if the companies involved are operating as one company and that company is eligible to get telecom licence. BTRC cannot take any step which can contradict with the court order, he added. When contacted, Robi refused to make any comment in this regard. However, a BTRC senior official said that the regulator has already received answers from Robi. The next step will be taken after reviewing the matter, he added. After receiving documentation with evidence of meeting the required conditions, the order of merger of licence will be issued, the BTRC letter said. But, Robi and Airtel have started operating together since November 17, 2016. BTRC on October 26, 2016 approved the merger with 21 conditions. The approval letter said that the operator should submit documentation of meeting the conditions.