BTRC to fine mobile operators for selling unregistered SIM

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The country's telecom regulatory body has decided to fine operators $50 for selling each unregistered SIM card and will conduct inspections from (today) Friday, a senior official said.

He said Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission took the decision of raising the fine amount to $50 from previous $10 after it observed that cell phone operators were selling SIM cards without following the regulator's guideline of registration.

"It is extremely disappointing for BTRC that even after repeated warnings mobile operators are still selling their SIM cards without registration," BTRC in its letters to the mobile operators said.

The BTRC letter also said previously, it was agreed that for each of such violation the respective operator shall pay a fine of $10 per SIM card.

Against these circumstances, a senior BTRC official said: "We have decided to go for inspection from today to see whether the operators are maintaining our guidelines while selling SIM cards."

He further said: "BTRC will inspect and if it is found that SIM card are being sold without registration, it will impose a fine equivalent to $50 for each unregistered SIM to the respective operators."

Requesting anonymity, a senior official of a cell phone operator said: "The BTRC should not fine us (operators) for selling SIM card by some one who is not an authorised dealer or distributor of an operator."

"You will see some one is selling SIM card on the pavement. We can't take liability if he violates BTRC regulation as he is not authorised by us."