Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Internet service providers (ISPs) have urged the government not to issue any new licences for international terrestrial cable (ITC) to maintain quality and speed of the internet services.
They have also worried over the government’s recent move to provide fresh licences of International Internet Gateway (IIG), International Gateway (IGW) and Interconnection Exchange (ICX), saying that it will badly affect the potential industry.
The government has taken the move to increase competition in the market and accelerate revenue collection through shutting illegal VoIP (voice over internet protocol) business in the country.
“Internet service will be seriously hampered in coming days due to issuance of new licences. So, the decision should be reviewed immediately for the greater interest of the sector,” President of ISP Association of Bangladesh Akhtaruzzaman Manju told reporters on Wednesday.
The association has also placed a three-point recommendation to overcome the situation.
The suggestions are allowing ISPs to link with internet through Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company (BSCCL) licence holders, taking measures to ensure standard of service of ICX providers without giving any new licences and VoIP must be open for international calls.
Among the applicants, 43 applied for IGW, 51 for ICX and 59 for IIG, according to the data of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
The BTRC in its guideline has fixed 51.75 per cent, 65.75 per cent and 10 per cent revenue sharing for the selected IGW, ICX and IIG operators respectively. Licence acquisition fee has been fixed at BDT 150 million for IGW, BDT 50 million for ICX and BDT 0.5 million for IIG.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Feb12-11:14 am (BST)
