The network infrastructure service provider edotco would not be able to continue its business in Bangladesh if the guideline for tower sharing licence is introduced as drafted.
According to the draft, any of the shareholders – local or foreign – of mobile phone operators and Broadband Wireless Access operators licenced by BTRC are not eligible to apply for the licence.
So far, edotco has been operating in Bangladesh by taking an NOC only.
An official of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said the mobile operator, Robi Axiata Limited, has around 50% share of edotco’s ownership.
Launched as an independent business entity on June 1, 2013, edotco is a part of the Malaysia-based Axiata Group performing mobile, telephone and network infrastructure operations in eight countries.
If the draft guideline gets the go-ahead, edotco’s business will come to an end.
Wishing anonymity, an official of the company said: “As a foreign investor, it would be tough for Bangladesh government to put a bar to our doing business here.”
“It will give a negative message to foreign investors if the government finally does anything against us as edotco has already invested millions of $dollars in Bangladesh,” he added.
edotco owns and operates more than 6,000 BTS tower sites across the country and continues expanding operations. It also claims to be the market leader in Bangladesh with 11 customers including six mobile phone operators.
The draft guideline also reads: The existing licenced telecom operators who have so far shared, leased and rented towers, will gradually roll back these tower sharing/leasing/renting services.
The government is going to introduce the Tower Sharing Licence as part of its plan to carry out the maintenance of mobile phone base stations through two separate companies.
But, opposing the government decision, some mobile phone operators said around 2,500 engineers will lose their jobs if the plan is implemented and the move also goes against the 3G licencing regulations.
As of now, six mobile operators have around 3,000 engineers. Of them, some 700 are working for GP, 600 for Banglalink, 500 for Robi and 1,000 for Teletalk, Citycell and Airtel, according to sources.
Since 2010, around 7,500 towers were set up by six operators across the country, of which 5,500 have already been shared.
Suresh Sidhu, edotco Group CEO, said: “We want to do business in Bangladesh abiding by the existing laws.”
“If the new guideline comes into effect and prevents us from getting licence, we will transfer our ownership from Robi to edotco.”
