Licences of 30-plus ISPs scrapped

The telecom regulator on Thursday cancelled licences of 33 internet service providers (ISPs) as they failed to pay their dues and get renewal in time. "They were operating without valid licences, though it is mandatory to apply for renewal of their licences before the agreements end," a notice issued by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said. The BTRC has ordered the service providers to pay the dues within one month and to stop all sorts of ISP-related operations immediately. The ISPs that lost their licences are Taliba ICT Limited, AGI Communication Ltd, Dhaka Telephone Company Ltd, Proshika Computer Services, Ebsco Ltd, GeoTel, Drik Gallery Library, Sonargaon Online Services, Global Network, United Communications and Services, BJ Trading, Intake Online, Media and Multimedia, Asia Net, BU City Communication, I-Net, Network Solutions, Earth Link IT, Karnafuli Online, Mim Tel, Oishi Network, Shadhin Media, Padma Communication, Sri Mongol Online, My Net, MLB Net, Nahian Technologies, Sea Beach Online, Jessore City Cable, A One Online, K Hossain Cable and Moni Enterprise. According to BTRC, currently there are 490 ISPs in Bangladesh. Some 50,000 subscribers will be affected due to the cancellation of licences of these ISPs, said a source at the BTRC. These licences were issued between April 2008 and January 2010. Earlier on June 29, the BTRC had warned 17 VSAT licence holders, including some foreign embassies in Dhaka, for their failure to renew their licences in time.

    — FE Report