Guideline for sharing telecom infrastructure prepared
Syed Ishtiaque Reza | Sunday, 3 August 2008
The Bangladesh Telecom-munication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has prepared a guideline for sharing of infrastructure among private stakeholders in the field of telecommunications to foster growth and stimulate investment in the sector.
The BTRC came up with the guideline to encourage the mobile operators, internet service providers and other concerned in the field to share the infrastructure for minimising cost and protecting environment.
"This is possible by reducing the proliferation of towers and facilities installation," BTRC said in its "draft guideline for infrastructure sharing". The guideline published last Thursday said one of the main objectives is to enhance sharing and reduce duplication of investments for network facilities.
Infrastructure sharing includes requirement to lease/rent out/swapping infrastructure on a discriminatory basis to other service providers, it said.
BTRC said it wants to promote the availability of wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Bangladesh by ensuring optimum utilisation of telecommunication resources.
The Commission felt that sharing of infrastructures would protect the environment by reducing the land use as well as infrastructure and facilities installations thereby not changing the aesthetics of the country's landscape.
"There is urgency for sharing infrastructure among telecommunication service providers," BTRC said adding it would allow better and efficient service for the subscribers and enhance competition among operators.
The draft guideline said infrastructure sharing will be provided based on the principles of neutrality, non-discrimination, equal access and fair play. BTRC said sharing of infrastructure will help optimise the operators' capital expenditure significantly.
After getting opinions from operators and general subscribers the BTRC will go for a public hearing before making it a law.
The BTRC came up with the guideline to encourage the mobile operators, internet service providers and other concerned in the field to share the infrastructure for minimising cost and protecting environment.
"This is possible by reducing the proliferation of towers and facilities installation," BTRC said in its "draft guideline for infrastructure sharing". The guideline published last Thursday said one of the main objectives is to enhance sharing and reduce duplication of investments for network facilities.
Infrastructure sharing includes requirement to lease/rent out/swapping infrastructure on a discriminatory basis to other service providers, it said.
BTRC said it wants to promote the availability of wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Bangladesh by ensuring optimum utilisation of telecommunication resources.
The Commission felt that sharing of infrastructures would protect the environment by reducing the land use as well as infrastructure and facilities installations thereby not changing the aesthetics of the country's landscape.
"There is urgency for sharing infrastructure among telecommunication service providers," BTRC said adding it would allow better and efficient service for the subscribers and enhance competition among operators.
The draft guideline said infrastructure sharing will be provided based on the principles of neutrality, non-discrimination, equal access and fair play. BTRC said sharing of infrastructure will help optimise the operators' capital expenditure significantly.
After getting opinions from operators and general subscribers the BTRC will go for a public hearing before making it a law.