MNP licence unlikely to be awarded before May

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has said it was very unlikely that mobile number portability (MNP) licence would be awarded through a ‘beauty contest’ before May, even though the State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim, had announced the launch of the service last year. 

Last year, the BTRC had fixed December 4 to hold the auction for the MNP, but it was cancelled on September 20 after the posts, telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) ministry issued a directive to this effect.
Later, the telecom regulator decided to award the MNP licence to a company through a ‘beauty contest’ instead of an auction. A ‘beauty contest’ is a selection process through which the BTRC-formed committee selects a single company from interested candidates. The selection will be held on the basis of some criteria.
The BTRC again amended the guidelines after receiving the directive of the telecom ministry. The draft guideline was approved at the 202nd meeting of the commission and was sent to the ministry of posts, telecommunications and information technology.
“The draft will be reviewed and approved by the telecom ministry and sent back to the commission. After receiving the approved copy of the guidelines, the BTRC will hold the ‘beauty contest’ to award the MNP licence,” said BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood. He also said the commission would fix the date for the contest after assessing all the aspects. It will also obtain clearance from security forces.
The BTRC sent the draft guidelines to the posts, telecommunications and ICT ministry, maintaining the provision that any qualified companies, including the five organisations qualified earlier, were eligible for the ‘beauty contest’. 
When asked whether the BTRC will be able to select the right company through a ‘beauty contest’, the BTRC secretary said: “The commission has already fixed some criteria for this. If a company meets those criteria, only then it will get the chance to provide the MNP service.”
Once the MNP service is launched the market will be more competitive for the operators as they would try to bring in new subscribers and also try to keep their existing ones, Dr Shahjahan Mahmood said. 
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.  
According to Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation 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 Norway—have been qualified for participating in the upcoming MNP auction. 

MNP licence unlikely to be awarded before May

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has said it was very unlikely that mobile number portability (MNP) licence would be awarded through a beauty contest before May, even though the State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim, had announced the launch of the service last year. Last year, the BTRC had fixed December 4 to hold the auction for the MNP, but it was cancelled on September 20 after the posts, telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) ministry issued a directive to this effect. Later, the telecom regulator decided to award the MNP licence to a company through a beauty contest instead of an auction. A beauty contest is a selection process through which the BTRC-formed committee selects a single company from interested candidates. The selection will be held on the basis of some criteria. The BTRC again amended the guidelines after receiving the directive of the telecom ministry. The draft guideline was approved at the 202nd meeting of the commission and was sent to the ministry of posts, telecommunications and information technology. The draft will be reviewed and approved by the telecom ministry and sent back to the commission. After receiving the approved copy of the guidelines, the BTRC will hold the beauty contest to award the MNP licence, said BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood. He also said the commission would fix the date for the contest after assessing all the aspects. It will also obtain clearance from security forces. The BTRC sent the draft guidelines to the posts, telecommunications and ICT ministry, maintaining the provision that any qualified companies, including the five organisations qualified earlier, were eligible for the beauty contest. When asked whether the BTRC will be able to select the right company through a beauty contest, the BTRC secretary said: The commission has already fixed some criteria for this. If a company meets those criteria, only then it will get the chance to provide the MNP service. Once the MNP service is launched the market will be more competitive for the operators as they would try to bring in new subscribers and also try to keep their existing ones, Dr Shahjahan Mahmood said. 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. According to Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation 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.