"Forming Consortium Without Ministry Permission Is Unauthorized": Telecom Minister
- Highlights legal concerns over individual licensees forming joint consortiums without prior ministry approval.
- Emphasizes strictly following regulatory guidelines for operating telecom infrastructure.
Fakir Mahbub Anam, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Science and Technology, unequivocally stated that individually licensed private institutions have no opportunity to form a consortium jointly without prior approval from the ministry.
On Thursday, September 3, the Minister made this direct remark in response to journalists' questions regarding the country's bandwidth crisis and the complexities arising from private submarine cable consortium licenses, during a press briefing at ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka.
In response to a journalist's question, the Minister said, "I heard that these individual companies were given individual licenses. The consortium they formed, without the permission of the ministry... I mean, were you given individual permission? But then the three of you came together to form a company and brought in the submarine cable or line – this is against the rules and regulations."
Notably, administrative and legal complications have recently arisen concerning a consortium formed by three private companies seeking to operate as an international submarine cable company after obtaining a license. Consequently, industry stakeholders are expressing concerns about a potential bandwidth shortage due to the evolving situation.
The Minister clearly stated that no organization would be allowed to operate by violating legal procedures and ministerial regulations. The government will not grant unethical advantages to anyone disregarding the overall interests and policies of the country's information technology sector. He assured that BTRC and the ministry would swiftly take necessary steps within the framework of rules and regulations to enhance digital infrastructure capabilities and address potential bandwidth shortages.
The Minister also mentioned that it is not in accordance with regulations for companies to merge after receiving individual licenses and then conduct joint business. The ministry is monitoring the entire situation, and appropriate action will be taken according to the regulations.
//DBTECH/JUS/SME/MIST//
