The much-awaited mobile number portability (MNP) service will be introduced in January for mobile phone users, as the telecom regulator has selected an operator for it.
Mobile number portability is a technology that allows customers to change their operators after a specific timeframe retaining their existing eleven digit number.
"The selection of MNP operator has almost been finalised, but we have not given the licence formally, as we are waiting for the final approval of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," said state minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim said, reports BSS.
It would take some time for necessary formalities, but "we are optimistic to introduce the service in January for the mobile phone users," she added.
Officials said that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has recommended joint-venture firm Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium for the licence, as it has secured top position obtaining the highest scores from the technical evaluation committee among the five firms.
The posts and telecommunications division (PTD) forwarded the recommendation of BTRC to the Prime Minister's Office for final approval, said Tarana Halim.
BTRC recommendation showed that Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium has scored 92 followed by Greentech Mediation Limited 87, Brazil-Bangladesh Consortium 84, REVE Number Limited 82 and Royal Green Limited 53.
Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium is a joint-venture of Infozillion BD Limited and Teletech D.O.O, Slovenia where the foreign partner has 55.9 per cent share.
But it has given undertaking that once the licence is granted, Infozillion and Teletech will set up new special purpose venture (local company) and foreign shareholding will be cut under 51 per cent. Besides, the Teletech has said it has a total of 14.7 million subscribers running operations in Armenia, Montenegro and Slovenia since 2006.
The government has fixed Taka 30 as charge for the service.
BTRC has been trying to introduce the MNP service, which would help bring more competition to the market and improve the service quality for the last few years.
The licence acquisition fee has been set at Taka 100 million (10 crore), and the winning company will have to share 15 per cent of its revenues with the government from the second year onwards.
The company must provide the service within 180 days of getting the licence.
Currently, some 72 countries including neighbouring India and Pakistan have introduced the service, with Singapore being the pioneer in this field.
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