Internet service providers and cable operators on Sunday came to an agreement with Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on the row over removal of overhead cables.
Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) and Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) decided not to continue internet service strike for three hours every day after a meeting with DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh at Nagar Bhaban.
The mayor has promised them that DSCC will stop removing overhead cables and waive charges for internet service providers for installing cable underneath, according to ISPAB leaders.
"DSCC will stop removing our cables from now on. So, we have withdrawn our decision on shutdown," MA Hakim, president of ISPAB, told the FE.
"Moreover, we don't have to seek permission from DSCC to dig the roads to replace our cables underground," he said.
The mayor agreed that ISPAB and COAB will run a pilot project on removal of overhead cables and its installation underneath in the city's Dhanmondi area.
"We will start implementing the pilot project from tomorrow in Dhanmondi area," said ISPAB secretary general Emdadul Haque.
On Saturday night, ISPAB and COAB postponed their decision on shutdown of their services across the country for three hours every day, a day after an emergency meeting with Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar at 6:00pm to resolve the issue.
Taposh, however, told reporters that all overhead cables in the capital will be removed by November this year.
"Cable operators will start working to lay the cables underground from tomorrow," he said.
While drawing attention to the mayor's comment, ISPAB secretary general Emdadul Haque said the deadline is for Dhanmondi area as a pilot project only.
DSCC and ISPAB and all other stakeholders will see how long it takes to remove overhead cables in Dhanmondi.
"Then, we will sit and decide again when and how overhead cables will be removed in Dhaka," he said.
Earlier on October 12, ISPAB announced a countrywide shutdown of Internet, data connectivity and associated services from October 18, from 10am to 1pm daily, to press home their demands including withdrawal of the decision on removal of overhead cables.
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