ISPAB Seek 24/7 Road Clearance for Maintenance Vehicles

The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has requested legal approval for covered vans and vehicles engaged in maintenance work to operate on roads 24 hours a day to ensure uninterrupted internet service nationwide. The appeal was made in a letter sent on 21 January by DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) to the Chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

The letter, signed by ISPAB General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhunya, highlights that internet has become a fundamental right for citizens and a key driver of the country’s economy. Critical sectors such as e-commerce, freelancing, banking, and education are heavily reliant on uninterrupted internet. However, due to the lack of clear legal guidelines or specific regulations regarding road movement, ISP maintenance vehicles often face requisition and fines.

ISPAB explained that each ISP must keep several covered pickup vans ready around the clock to transport optical fiber, routers, switches, and emergency maintenance materials. Rapid repair is essential whenever network faults or disconnections occur, making unrestricted 24-hour vehicle movement crucial. Police requisitions and fines, however, delay repairs, affecting ordinary customers as well as important government institutions.

The letter also notes that licensed ISPs have been contributing to the country’s technological growth for the past 25 years. With the government already passing laws to prevent internet shutdowns, the organization urged that maintenance vehicles be treated as part of ‘essential services’ and exempted from traffic police inspections or requisitions, allowing them to operate smoothly.

Copies of the request have also been sent to the Secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division and the BTRC Chairman. ISPAB hopes that prompt action by the authorities will further improve internet quality and stability across the country.

DBTech/IHMUM/OR