Stakeholders want more amendments in Telecom Act to make it investment friendly

The stakeholders related to telecom industry feels that, after two decades of action, the updated draft Telecom Act needs to be investment friendly and enforceable. They claim that the Act should be inclusive, enforceable and lenient rather than panel dependent and reduce existing hurdles by facilitating inclusion and coordination. But the draft law does not properly define the issue of taking away the independence of the Regulatory Commission BTRC and social media business. The latest technologies like AI are not yet included in the act. The guide lines also lack coordination.

This is what the speakers opined in the roundtable discussion titled ‘Reform of the Telecom Act and Way Forward’ on the new law on Smart Bangladesh journey held at the BCC meeting room of the ICT Tower in the capital on Wednesday.

In the discussion Simon Reza Talukder, Professor of School Law at BRAC University said that in the implementation of Smart Bangladesh, the issue of digital services, data, fines have not been brought to the attention of individuals or institutions in the law. Absence of specific authority of arbitration and exemption from liability is contrary to these Rules of Law.

While speaking as the chief guest at the meeting, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that telecom has made an outstanding contribution to today's development. We believe that the revised Telecom Act will be timely, liberal, future-oriented business-friendly and citizen-friendly through the best practices of the best laws in the world. That is why there is no disagreement in the proposal that you have come up with today regarding this law.  

He said, a committee of 9 members will be constituted for the necessary amendments, including abolition of heavy fines, non-bailable punishment of the head of the institution. 

General Secretary Masuduzzaman Rabin delivered the welcome address at the event moderated by TRNB President Rashed Mehdi.

BTRC Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed, AMTOB President Yasir Azman were present as special guests. 

Among the stakeholders, mobile operators and ISP business leaders were also present. 

BTRC Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed said that law is for people. I believe in responsibility, not in power. But I want to fulfill my responsibilities without fear. It is not military rule. I want to serve people by protecting their interests. 

AMTOB President Yasir Azman said, We hope this law will be citizen, state and business friendly at the same time. 

Highlighting the topic of women and children using the internet in remote areas outside Dhaka, he further said, "I believe that a smart telecom act will be made in line with other countries of the world by keeping the non-bailable clause, burden of fines and arbitration system of this law."

BTRC Vice Chairman Md. Aminul Haque presented the main article on the draft Telecommunication Act 2024 and said that the law has introduced light penalties for sharing obscene content and improving matters such as telephone tampering and smart services such as e-commerce and OTT. 9 new ideas have been included. It is proposed to delete 6 clauses in the right-of-way clause, which include any land use facility for extension of telecom connection but do not have activities. 

Shahed Alam, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Robi, said that the implementation of laws related to VoIP and spectrum is not easy. In this Act we do not see the expression of the views of the ICT Adviser. 

He put forward a set of recommendations in the presentation given by AMTOB. These are proposed to include easy exit opportunities and easy integration pathways for telecom operators. The law should not be verbose rather simple. Use of new technology and business in the law should be entrepreneur friendly. The pending OTT and social media policies need to have sustainable guidelines and license policies to see the light of day.

ISPAB President Imdadul Haque said that according to the law, license renewal is not sent from BTRC to the ministry. Similarly, the Act should be amended to make the process of transfer of shares easier for small entrepreneurs. IIG bandwidth tariff for ISPs is fixed at Tk. 365, but it is available in the market at Tk. 200 to 250; it is encouraged not to obey the revenue sharing law, we want the price to be open, to compete with each other and do business.

MOIB President Zakaria Shahid said, the country is moving with guidance in mobile production. It makes us feel insecure. Grinding in worry of selling illegal goods. So let these things be included in this law.

Sunil Isaac, Country Managing Director of Tower Sharing Company Edotco Bangladesh, said, "We want towers to be considered as critical infrastructure in the law. At the same time, access to electricity should be made easy and affordable. He demanded that Tower Co. be given incentives to make the national infrastructure environment friendly and investment friendly.

Grameenphone COO Hans Martin, Banglalink Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Taimur Rahman, Teletalk Acting Managing Director Nurul Mamud Chowdhury, Fiber@home Director Abbas Farooq, Summit Communication Chief Architect Officer Farooq Imtiaz, Nagad Vice President Sajal Zahid and others spoke on the occasion.

Sajal Zahid said that the implementation of Smart Bangladesh will be easy by regularly updating the rules in the law. Therefore, BTRC will be independent and responsible rather than regulated.