BTRC process on to appoint consultant for satellite

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is proceeding with its target to launch the country's first-ever satellite into orbit by December 2013, reports UNB. As part of the plan, the BTRC already started tendering process to appoint an international consulting firm to help achieve its goal. Under the process, the telecom watchdog will receive technical and financial offers from the short-listed bidders to appoint the consultant. According to a source, the BTRC, as part of the government decision to launch the satellite, invited expression of interest (EOI) from international firms in last November to appoint the consultant. In response, a total of 31 firms submitted their initial proposals for the task. But after scrutiny, the BTRC short-listed seven firms from different countries. Later, the short-listed firms were issued request for proposal (RFP) to submit their final technical and financial offers in detail. Meanwhile, the BTRC Monday held a meeting with the representatives of the sort-listed firms to discuss the project. Representatives from five firms were present in the meeting, presided over by BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed.