Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has again asked Grameenphone (GP), the country’s largest mobile phone operator, and its partner organisations ADN Telecom and Agni Systems to explain some allegations brought against them for running the ‘Go Broadband’ services that provides fiber-optic connections by violating the BTRC’s WiMax policy guidelines within May 15.  The BTRC issued a letter in this regard on Wednesday (April 27) asking GP and its partners to explain the ‘Go Broadband’ services, how Go has been providing services to Sonali Bank, and how it has established transmission. According to the letter, the BTRC wanted to know the number of Go subscribers.
When contacted Grameenphone in a statement said: "We have responded to BTRC's queries within the stipulated time and now BTRC is seeking further details for which we have informed that we require additional time." Earlier, on April 19, GP told The Independent that it had explained about ‘Go Broadband’ services to the telecom regulator. Mahmud Hossain, chief corporate affairs office of GP, had said, “We have responded to the BTRC with our clarifications within the stipulated time.” However, the letter issued by the BTRC on April 27 said that the GP was told to submit its explanations on six issues by April 13th but the telecom operator has failed to do so, and sought more time.
On February 28, Internet Service Providers Association Bangladesh (ISPAB) submitted a complaint against GP and its two partners. After a scrutiny of the allegations, the BTRC on March 2 sought explanations from GP, ADN Telecom and Agni Systems.
As per the Telecom Act 2001 (Amendment), the commission can fine the operator or even suspend or cancel the licence for violation of the guidelines.
A letter signed by Md Nahidul Hasan, senior assistant director of BRTC’s Engineering and Operations Division, said Grameenphone, ADN Telecom and Agni System have to present six specific information which include what sort of service does Go Broadband provide, does the service have the licence of BTRC and whether it has informed BTRC if the brand is different.
The commission has also asked about the types of services Go provide and how, and has asked for a copy of the agreement between Go and the state-owned Sonali Bank.
The BTRC also inquired whether Go Broadband has taken the
approval of the commission
about revenue sharing and
tariff plan and if taken, what is the tenure of it.
The letter also asked details of the partnership among ADN Telecom Ltd, Agni Systems Ltd and Grameenphone and whether
any copy of their partnership was submitted to the commission and how Go Broadband has set up its transmission.
All these information has to be submitted to the commission in detail in a prescribed chart, said the BTRC letter.
“If you analyse the six points, you will notice that the questions raised by the regulator are not asked when there is already permission for the activity,” MA Hakim, president of the ISPAB told The Independent.
“We want a level playing field. Grameenphone in association with ADN and Agni has created an uneven competition in the market. We have filed the complaint with the BTRC for a level playing field,” Hakim said.
He further said that if such illegal activities continue, all other ISPs will suffer great losses and it will give rise to uneven competition.
“That’s why we have requested to take appropriate measures to reinstate fair competition and level playing field among the various ISPs,” he added.