Private telecom operators start payment of fine to BTRC
Monday, 8 October 2007
FE Report
Private telephone companies have started payment of 'compensation' to the government for their involvement in illegal call termination activities in voice over internet protocol (VoIP).
Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has recently imposed a penalty of Tk 1.684 billion on the Grameenphone in this connection.
The Grameenphone, paid Tk 560 million to the BTRC in the first installment of the penalty amount Saturday, sources said. The company will pay the rest in two installments.
Banglalink, another private mobile company also paid a handsome amount in this connection while Aktel will pay the money in near future, sources said.
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) companies-Rankstel, Bayphone, Banglaphone, Onetel, Peoples Tel and Dhakaphone- have already deposited their penalty money.
According to a BTRC statement, international call termination to Bangladesh is a licensed service and is currently reserved for the state-owned telephone operator-Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board- (BTTB) only.
Law enforcing agencies and BTRC started joint crackdown operations on illegal VoIP operators after the new interim govt took office in January,2007.
During raid and investigation against illegal call termination businesses, GP's involvement was ascertained. GP has already made partial payment of the aforesaid amount and the balance will be deposited to the exchequer shortly, the BTRC said.
"We hope that no telecommunication operators will facilitate any illegal VoIP ventures. The operators are expected to cooperate the government to prevent such activities in the future," said Monjurul Alam, BTRC chairman.
He also mentioned that 'No one will be spared if found involved in any capacity in the illegal call termination businesses."
Private telephone companies have started payment of 'compensation' to the government for their involvement in illegal call termination activities in voice over internet protocol (VoIP).
Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has recently imposed a penalty of Tk 1.684 billion on the Grameenphone in this connection.
The Grameenphone, paid Tk 560 million to the BTRC in the first installment of the penalty amount Saturday, sources said. The company will pay the rest in two installments.
Banglalink, another private mobile company also paid a handsome amount in this connection while Aktel will pay the money in near future, sources said.
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) companies-Rankstel, Bayphone, Banglaphone, Onetel, Peoples Tel and Dhakaphone- have already deposited their penalty money.
According to a BTRC statement, international call termination to Bangladesh is a licensed service and is currently reserved for the state-owned telephone operator-Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board- (BTTB) only.
Law enforcing agencies and BTRC started joint crackdown operations on illegal VoIP operators after the new interim govt took office in January,2007.
During raid and investigation against illegal call termination businesses, GP's involvement was ascertained. GP has already made partial payment of the aforesaid amount and the balance will be deposited to the exchequer shortly, the BTRC said.
"We hope that no telecommunication operators will facilitate any illegal VoIP ventures. The operators are expected to cooperate the government to prevent such activities in the future," said Monjurul Alam, BTRC chairman.
He also mentioned that 'No one will be spared if found involved in any capacity in the illegal call termination businesses."