On July 26, we editorialised on BTRC’s decision to revive a dead auction to accommodate Ollo and provide 4G LTE licenses. We have also written about how national interests are being compromised and the overall licensing process is mired in smoke.
Now, once again, inexplicably, there have been reports of BTRC changing the licensing guidelines to favour Ollo. Before, the issue was the low-ball price that Ollo was paying for its license; now BTRC is simply bending and changing its coat to retro-fit Ollo’s figure.
Why the BTRC appears hell-bent on creating grounds for Ollo to have a free run at the market is beyond comprehension. We must not forget the shady history that Ollo has: refusing the license while it was offered and starting operations without filling in the necessary paperwork.
The favouritism that BTRC is showing towards Ollo not only seems odd but also raises questions that ought to be uncomfortable for any regulatory commission. The point of having a regulator in any open market is to create a level playing field and ensure the healthy competition is beneficial to the consumers.
If credible reports of corruption were to emerge in the whole process, it won’t do the government’s re-election prospects much good. After the serious damage that Hall-Mark and Bismillah group scams have done to this government’s image, it really can do without one more scandal.
Such irregular practice at this point in time is as bad an idea as it gets.