The government and the regulator sit with mobile phone operators today (Tuesday) to discuss the draft guideline for second generation (2G) licence renewal as the row deepens over the issue, officials said Monday. The tripartite meeting is the first since the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) published the draft guideline on licence renewal in December last year. The current licence of four mobile telephony firms--Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Citycell-- will expire in November this year. Under the guideline, cellphone operators would require paying a total of Tk 280 billion-with half of it payable in 15 years in three installments. Mobile phone operators say the fees are "exorbitantly high" and are not compatible with the international practice. The operators are hopeful that the government and the regulator would resolve the issue after consultation with them and help the sector grow unfettered. "We hope the government wouldn't do anything that goes against the interest of the telecom industry," said chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone Mahmud Hossain. Director general (legal and licensing division) of BTRC AKM Shahiduzzaman said the ministry has convened the meeting to discuss the licensing issue. "We've prepared the draft guideline considering pros and cons of national interest. But now it's the decision of the ministry to take the final decision," he said. He, however, told the FE that every operator would have the chance to bargain and no unilateral decision would be taken in this regard. The commission had earlier submitted the draft guideline to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Ministry and posted it on its website in January seeking comment from operators, experts and stakeholders. In the draft guideline, BTRC has fixed US$ 31.50 million as spectrum fee for per Mhz. According to the guideline, present market leader Grameenphone has to pay US$ 754 million, Banglalink US$ 410 million, Robi US$ 411million and Citycell US$ 85 million as spectrum fee on the basis of utilisation factor (UF). The policy has fixed Tk 100 million as license fee. It also fixed Tk 100,000 as license application fee, Tk 50 million for annual license fee and social obligation fee at 1.5 per cent. The new policy said spectrum application will require Tk 50,000 in fees. Spectrum assignment fee per mega hertz for GSM has been set at Tk 1.50 billion for 1800 band, Tk 3.00 billion for 900 band and Tk 1.50 billion for per mega hertz for CDMA system.
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