Govt contemplating issuing more NTTN licences

Md Jamal Uddin The government is contemplating issuing more Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) licences to promote the unified networking system as the sector did not develop by this time as desired, said a high official of the regulatory authority. He cited the reason of under development of the sector for monopoly of some big operators. Now two operators-Fiber@Home and Summit Communication Ltd. are jointly developing a common infrastructure across the country. The government issued NTTN licence to two operators for building common network across the country two years ago. Now Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) sought public opinion on NTTN draft guidelines to issue new licences with some changes in existing guidelines. In the proposed guidelines, the amount of bank guarantee has been fixed at Tk 5 million from previous Tk 100 million and licence fee to Tk 10 million from previous 30 million. Head of PR and Government Relation of Fiber@Home Abbas Faruk told the FE that the business area of the sector is very limited. His company has already laid underground fiber optical cable at divisional cities and gradually it will reach Upazila level. If the government issues more NTTN licences, the business will not be viable, he added. Another competitor, Summit Communications also echoed the same in this regard. Head of PR and Communication of Summit Arif Hussain said their big clients are mobile operators, but they have their own infrastructures in important areas. 'So where we will do business, he posed a question.' The business will not be viable only by giving connections to Wimax operators-Banglalion and Qubee, ISPAB and cable operators, he added. He mentioned GrameenPhone has almost 5000- KM line, Banglalink 2200- KM, Citycell 2000- KM and Robi 700- KM lines. Director General (legal and licencing division) of BTRC A. K. M. Shahiduzzaman told the FE that the authority is only seeking opinions from the experts and others regarding new NTTN licence. After getting opinion, it will take decision what they will do, he added. In reply to a question regarding the licence fee reduction, he said actually the fees of NTTN licence was excessive previously. Realising the fact the authorities has reduced fees in different categories. He also said telecom ministry is the proper authority to issue licence and BTRC only formulates guidelines.