Moblie cos blamed for auction delay

FE Report | Published: May 18, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The telecom regulator Sunday criticised the country's major cellphone firms for dragging their feet in participating in the spectrum auction.
"Initially, the operators pushed for the auction, but when we started the bidding process, their parent companies expressed their unwillingness to go for further investment," said Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
The commission chief's tirade came at a press conference, organised on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)-2015, held in the capital.
Mr Bose said the operators backtracked from the participation after the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has moved to collect its outstanding SIM replacement tax.
BTRC chief also warned of action against the companies in case of their failure to ensure quality telephony services for all.
"You (subscribers) please install mobile apps available with the operators to measure internet speed and lodge complaints with the regulator, if they fail to ensure quality services," he said.
He said the companies will be penalised, if found guilty.
The BTRC has postponed the spectrum auction for an indefinite period after rescheduling it three times as mobilephone companies remained unresponsive.
He, however, said that the government is revising the spectrum guidelines allowing all incoming companies to participate in the bidding.
Mr Bose ruled out the possibility of any negative impact on the budget, even if the government does not earn its expected Tk30 billion from the auction.
"It's not going to be a big problem, if we fail to hold spectrum auction before the upcoming budget," he said.
A three-day programme was announced to observe the International Telecommunication Day, which is also the 150th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union.
The main function will be held today (Monday) at the Banagabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital at 3:00pm. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the event where ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak will be present.
As part of the observance, a seminar on four subjects would be held with the participation of telecommunication and ICT professionals, operators and university teachers.
These are: "Connectivity and Internet" by Robi executive vice president Shahed Ahmed, "Innovation in ICT and Telecom" by Grameenphone regulatory affairs director Hossain Sadat, "Content and Application" by Professor Dr Syed Akter Hossain of Daffodil University and "Telecommunications Driver for Development" by Professor Dr Rukonuzzaman of North South University.
This year, the theme of the day is Telecommunication and ICTs: Drivers of Innovation. Every year, May 17 is observed as the International Telecommunication Day with a view to raising ICT awareness among the people.
Secretary of the ministry of posts, telecommunications and information technology Md. Faizur Rahman Chowdhury, BTRC's vice chairman Ahsan Habib Khan and Taletalk managing director Gias Uddin Ahmed, among others, were present at the press conference.
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