BTRC chief calls for revising telecom policy

The head of telecom regulator on Wednesday stressed the need for immediate revision of the telecommunications policy to help attract investments in the sector.
 "The existing telecom policy needs massive change as the current 22-page telecom guideline has become outdated," said Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose.
The policy was formulated back in 1998.
He made the remarks at a roundtable discussion on 'Revision of Telecom Policy' organised by Telecom Reporters' Network Bangladesh (TRNB) at a city hotel.
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique addressed the roundtable as chief guest while TRNB President Abdullah Mamun moderated the event.
Rohan Samarajiva, founding chair of Sri Lankan policy and regulation think tank LIRNEasia, presented a keynote paper at the programme, where its senior fellow Abu Sayed Khan also spoke.
High officials from the telecom operators including Grameenphone Chief Corporate Officer Mahmud Hossain, Director of CA Strategy & Planning (Corporate affairs division) Md Munior Hasan, Banglalink Regulatory Affairs Senior Director (Regulatory and  & Legal Affairs) Taimur Rahman, and Airtel Head Regulatory and Public Affairs Shah Md Fazle Khuda addressed the discussion.
Mr Bose said the existing policy was formulated considering the land phone services alone, but today mobile telephony has outpaced the public switched telephone network operators in the country.
"The telecom industry has largely failed to fetch big-size investment, because we couldn't get an up-to-date policy," the BTRC chief said.
Mr Bose said the prospective investors lose their heart when they see an outdated guideline in place, which deprives the sector as well as the government of potentially big revenues.
However, he favoured keeping some provisions of the existing policy as it contains some good provisions.   
He said the new policy should also incorporate tools to help other sectors like banks, farming and apparel.
The keynote presenter Rohan said the desired development of the other sectors like banking, farming and business largely depends on the availability of low-cost telecom solutions.
Mahmud Hossain said the existing policy should be amended setting a new target including expected investment and ensuring necessary security of the customers' rights.
"The government should provide subsidy on the major devices like smart phone to increase the number of users under the given services" the GP official said.
Echoing GP official, Banglalink's Taimur Rahman said the telecom policy should be formulated integrating others sectors.
Fazle Khuda said the policy should also consider the density of the population ensuring level playing field for all mobile operators.  
The minister to agreed with industry people that the existing telecom policy should be modernised. "Please submit a draft proposal to me focusing the issue," he told industry officials.