BSS-31 Administrators to be appointed if GP, Robi fail to pay dues: BTRC

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BSS-31

BTRC-GP-ROBI-SHOWCAUSE

Administrators to be appointed if GP, Robi fail to pay dues: BTRC

DHAKA, Sept 5, 2019 (BSS) – Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) served show-cause notices to the country’s two leading mobile phone operators- Grameenphone and Robi- for realizing the outstanding dues.

Talking to BSS, BTRC Chairman Md Jahurul Haque today said: “We issued show-cause notices against Grameenphone and Robi giving a 30-day deadline whether their 2G and 3G licenses would be revoked.”

BTRC has taken the new move against the largest and second largest mobile phone operators as part of its continuous measures such as partial bandwidth block, non issuance of no objection certificates (NOC) etc.

Replying to a query, the BTRC Chairman said if they fail to pay the outstanding dues their licenses would be revoked, “but organizations cannot be shut down that is why we would appoint administrators to run Grameenphone and Robi.”

But, the next course of action would be finalized after the 30-day deadline, he added.

Grameenphone has an outstanding due of Taka 12,579 crore while it was Taka 867.24 crore for Robi, according to the BTRC’s audit.

The telecom regulator issued demand notes to the respective operators several times. The BTRC had run technical and financial audits on their network since their inception to till the year 2015.

“Both Grameenphone and Robi have the scope of paying the amount in installments,” said Md Jahurul Haque answering to another question, adding, “but, they have no other way but to pay the dues.”

Officials said the BTRC took the latest measure as per the section 46(2) of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act.

“Robi has received a show-cause notice from BTRC as why our 2G and 3G licenses should not be cancelled. We will reply on the matter in due course,” Shahed Alam, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer of Robi Axiata told BSS.

Earlier, on July 4 this year the telecom regulator directed all the International Internet Gateway (IIG) operators to cut down 30 percent bandwidth of the total usage of Grameenphone while it was 15 percent for Robi to realize the dues. But, later the partial block was lifted on July 17 considering the inconveniences of the subscribers.

The BTRC also suspended issuing NOC for importing equipment to run the operators network as part of the punitive measures.

According to the BTRC, Grameenphone has 7.48 crore active connections while Robi owns 4.77 crore connections and about half of them are using internet.

BSS/SPL/MAK/KU/1952 HRS