The BTRC will not allow ISPs providing internet services in different parts of the country who do not allow other ISPs to do business. Even if the ISPs with monopoly business have licenses, will not be tolerated.
Shyam Sundar Sikder, chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, passed the warning at a public hearing titled “Activities of Telecommunication Services and Regulatory Authority” organized by BTRC on August 22. He made the remarks after customers took part in the hearing and lodged complaints against ISPs.
On the same subject, Director General of Engineering and Operations Ehsanul Kabir said that if the BTRC provided specific information about the accused ISP, the name of the complainant would be kept secret.
In response to another question, Brigadier General Shahidul Alam, Director General (DG) of Spectrum Division of BTRC, said that BTRC will allocate another 400 MHz spectrum in the next two years.
Meanwhile, in today’s hearing, several questions related to increasing speed of internet, handset, SIM registration also came up. Besides, the customers who took part in the public hearing also asked various questions against the mobile operators of the country.
During the public hearing, Abdullah Al Mamun raised the issue of layoffs against GrameenPhone.
In response to the question, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder said that the matter is internal to GrameenPhone. Even then, the BTRC will look into the extent to which those who have been retrenched have been retrenched logically.
Highlighting the problem related to VAS of Banglalink, a person named Abdul Qayyum said that in response to his legal notice, Banglalink mentioned that he would be returned taka 55 but he was given taka 45 only. The operator has not paid the rest yet. Calling for action of BTRC to remedy such incidents, the BTRC chairman said that the BTRC has taken the matter as an ideal case. The two sides will discuss later.
25 issues came out in the public hearing titled ‘Activities of Telecommunication Services and Regulatory Agencies’ organized by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission BTRC in 2019. Out of those, 60 percent of the problems have already been solved. And the remaining 40 percent are partially solved or under process.
Brigadier General Md. Nasim Parvez, Director General of BTRC, presented this information at the hearing.
In the public hearing held in 2019, two issues related to call-rate, six issues related to internet, two issues related to mobile and data packages, two issues related to call drop, drive test and quality of service, one issue related to retailer, one issue related to handset and four questions related to public hearing and public awareness were presented.
At the same time, information on the progress and implementation of digital content in agriculture, construction of BTRC buildings across the country, dipping charges for MNP services, BTRC measures on illegal ISPs, OTT issues, unexpected messages and tower sharing issues were also highlighted.
