Summit pays Tk 100m to BTRC

Summit Communica-tions has paid Tk 100 million to the telecoms regulator BTRC as share-transfer fee following the change of government.

The previous authorities were planning to waive these fees and charges of share transfer and equity to Summit, according to BTRC sources.

On Thursday, the Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commi-ssion (BTRC) notified Summit to pay 5.5 per cent of the selling price of the shares along with 15-per cent VAT within 10 days.

Summit paid an estimated Tk 100 million on Sunday afternoon.

BTRC commissioner Mushfiq Mannan Choudhury confirmed the receipt of the amount from Summit.

BTRC sources said the amount was long overdue and the previous BTRC chairman was considering waiver of the amount in reply to a request from Summit.

As per section 24 of the Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulation Act 2001, the BTRC revised some fees along with charges of share transfer/network equipment sale of all types of licence in 2021.

Summit Communica-tions has the highest number of licences as a single entity in the industry, including NTTN, IIG, NIX, ITC, ICX, telecom tower, and submarine cable systems and services operator.

Competing business entities have long been alleging that Summit has been enjoying undue privileges in the telecommunication sector.

A competent source in the BTRC said they would check all previous decisions made with regards to Summit if there was any irregularity happened.

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