Mobile operators Grameenphone and Robi will not get fresh 'no-objection certificates (NOCs)' until they pay audit claim dues to the government.
"We'll soon stop issuing NOCs to them (GP and Robi). We'll see what happens next," Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Md Jahurul Haque said on Wednesday.
There is a provision to appoint an administrator to realise dues from the two operators, he added.
"If NOCs don't work, we'll appoint an administrator. There won't be any waiver to the claimed money," he told a press conference at his office in the afternoon.
However, bandwidth restrictions on the two leading local telecom operators as a pressing measure to collect dues will go by Wednesday night.
But the errant operators will not able to purchase and import new equipment and get approval for new packages after the new decision take effect.
Terming the audit claims disputed, both operators were urging BTRC to settle the issue through arbitration.
But BTRC says there is no scope to go to arbitration as per existing law over realising dues from them.
As per a BTRC audit claim, GP has Tk 125.79 billion in dues to the government, including Tk 40.85 billion to the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
Robi has Tk 86.72 billion to the government, including Tk 19.72 billion to NBR.
Reacting to new decisions, Robi Axiata chief corporate and regulatory officer Shahed Alam said non-issuance of NOC as a replacement for bandwidth reduction will only mount sufferings for customers.
"Stopping NOC will lead to seizure on ongoing investment. Network expansion and all other planned activities to improve the quality of service will also come to a halt."
Mr Alam said companies like network partner, NTTN operators and ICT firms who are integral to the telecom sector would be adversely affected by this decision.
"…without applying undue pressure to collect the flawed claim amount," he said, "a structured approach to the dispute through arbitration will best serve interests of the people and the country."
On July 04, the telecom regulator reduced 30 per cent bandwidth capacity of GP and 15 per cent of Robi for their failure to pay the government their dues.
At the briefing, the BTRC chief said the audit was conducted as per the directives of the High Court.
"Letters were sent to them several times seeking dues and their bandwidth capacity was also reduced."
Asked whether the decision was a wrong one, Mr Haque replied in the negative, saying: "We're going to take even bigger steps."
BTRC managing director (spectrum) AKM Shahiduzzaman said once the regulator stops NOC issuance, GP and Robi would be unable to import telecom equipment and instruments, and install base transceiver stations.
"The two operators will not get approval for new packages from the regulator following the decision," he added.
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