The telecom ministry would consider a proposal to cut 50% tariff on international phone call termination for a six-month period on test basis.
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique spoke about the tariff cut at an exchange of opinion meeting with Telecom Reporters’ Network Bangladesh (TRNB) at his office in Dhaka yesterday.
He said the ministry would request the finance ministry to approve the proposal.
He was, however, critical about lots of irregularities in international call termination process.
Secretary of Posts & Telecommunications Division Md Abubakar Sdddique was present.
Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) made the proposal to the telecom ministry weeks before, but the finance ministry refused it.
The BTRC had estimated that the tariff cut would cause a revenue loss of around Tk1,100 crore annually.
Currently, international incoming call termination rate is fixed at $.03, which the government now wants to fix at $.015 per minute. The government share is 51.75% of the tariff.
Meanwhile, the government cut by half the annual licence fee for International Gateway (IGW) operators from Tk7.5 crore to Tk3.75 crore.
The minister said they know that lots of countries have call termination rate more than $0.08 to $0.1 per minute, but if the call volume increases, the government will lose no money.
Currently, per minute international call termination rate in Sri Lanka is $.09, $.095 in Nepal, $.088 in Pakistan and $.25 cents in Maldives, sources of the industry informed.
Replying to a question, the minister said as Ratul Telecom is the owner of his party leader’s daughter and they are under his grip that’s why he gave them time to pay their dues of Tk99 crore.
“There is no scope to think that I gave them better scope. I just want to collect the government’s money and it is a process to collect. If they fail within the timeframe, I can catch up them anytime as they are in my party,” he added.
Recently, BTRC gave Ratul Telecom a time extension to pay their dues by 31 May, although four other IGWs are facing cases for the similar offence of failing to share revenues on time.
The BTRC filed certificate cases to get dues of Tk92.5 crore from Telex Ltd, Tk181.5 crore from Vision Tel Ltd, Tk122.5 crore from Bestec Telecom Limited and Tk84.27.5 crore
from Kay Telecommunications Ltd against revenue share plus annual license fees.
Ratul Telecom, 50% of which is owned by Nanak’s daughter Syeda Amrin Rakhi and 20% more by Nanak’s wife Syeda Arzuman Banu, had paid only Tk15.01 crore in last two years.
Latif Siddique said he has an intention to reduce the number of IGWs and other gateways to control the situation.