BTRC seeks info about MNOs, ISPs' spending on digital ads

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has directed the mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) to provide information about how much they spent on digital advertisements on different social media platforms in 2021.
The commission sent a letter on Wednesday in this regard to all mobile operators, internet service providers (ISPs), TVAS, ATUP SMS aggregator operator chief executive or managing director, president of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh and general secretary of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh.
The BTRC said it noticed digital advertisements are run on social media platforms such as Google, WhatsApp, Yahoo, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, and imo.
According to the letter sent to the operators, they have been given 10 days to provide information on their digital advertisement expenditure from January to December last year.
"We are collecting the information to ensure a proper revenue collection for the government and ensure transparency," Subrata Roy Maitra, vice-chairman of the commission, told FE.
The operators will have to submit detailed information including the names of payment channels and amount paid.
BTRC provided a chart with columns such as description of the ad, number of hits, transaction method, and money spent, following which the organisations have to submit the report.
Last year, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft received the value-added tax registration, enabling the National Board of Revenue to ensure compliance.
In October 2021, the High Court ordered the government to take steps to collect taxes, VAT and other charges on the revenues generated by the companies in the country.

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