News Title : 4G spectrum auction likely next year

News Date : 2015-10-21

-Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is taking preparation to invite 4G spectrum auction next year. BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bosh made the disclosure while exchanging views with reporters on Wednesday, the last working day of his three-year assignment in the commission, at BTRC conference room. “Operators are reluctant to participate the 4G auction initiated this year due to investment constrain, but I am hopeful that they would participate in the auction in an enthusiasm mood,” he said. He said the BTRC has already taken preparation 700megahertz spectrum action. But the operators would introduce 4G services if they would be able to get existing technology neutrality, he thinks. Bosh said only three operators get profits whereas rest of the three operators are not doing well in terms of profit. “They have to die or join others,” he observed. He said the telecom sector’s main challenge in the coming days is to train skill manpower. He also said the bandwidth price should be reduced to support customers. He observed to create a separate internet cyber security organisation through appointment of skilled and trained manpower. The telecom boss, who was also the secretary of the Ministry of Telecommunications, said the public suffering on call drop would be overcome through introduction of mobile number portability (MNP). Customers would be able to choice their operation through introduction of MNP and the operators would also improve their services in this process. He thinks the call drop cannot be avoided by 100 percent, but it could be reduced to a reasonable limit. He hinted that the regulatory body didn’t work properly due to ministry’s intervention. “I think the government should empower BTRC to make it more service-oriented,” he said. Sunil Kanti expressed his disappointment over the creation of a new department of telecommunications (DoT) as, he thinks, it would hamper BTRC’s service. Responded to a query about the task of BTRC in coming days, he said, “Government should consider the BTRC do their job as regulatory task.” He informed that around 60 percent foreign direct investment would come through telecom sector during the last 10 years. The investment was stagnant if the BTRC was not formed in 2002, he observed. The discussion also entailed awarding licenses under political consideration to some IIG, ICX and VSP. BTRC Vice Chairman Ahsan Habib Khan, among others, attended at the view-exchange meeting. Meanwhile, the government has appointed Engineer Shahjahan Mahmud, Awami League president of Washington Metro, new BTRC boss.

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