A number of VoIP service providers (VSPs) have called for restructuring of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, alleging that the regulator is full of corrupt people.
They also allege that they cannot place incoming ISD calls – despite being connected to the international gateways (IGWs) – because of the BTRC.
“A few high officials of the regulator, who are supposed to be the protectors, have been playing the role of predators, creating a syndicate with some corrupt businessmen,” Rabiul Karim, convener of the VoIP Service Provider Association (VSPA), said in a written speech.
He alleged that these officials had been working at the BTRC for a long time and were now busy fulfilling their own interests.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Rabiul said the VSPs did not have any idea about how they could collect the money from international carriers for terminating calls. He alleged that the BTRC guideline did not have any directives in this regard.
“We have even found that these officials do not have any clear idea about our licensing procedure.
“The BTRC chairman often misbehaved with us and did not give us time until the telecommunication minister intervened,” Rabiul said.
BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose and a few other officials could not be reached over phone for their comments on the allegations brought by the VSPA.
A total of 1,004 VoIP licences were awarded five months ago, but these new VSPs are yet to place calls as, they allege, the IGWs are not receiving any from them.
A VoIP service provider told the Dhaka Tribune that a number of IGWs had taken VoIP licence and were now handling their own calls only. “Many of the IGWs took several VoIP licences against different people, including their own employees,” he said.
“As the IGWs are handling calls terminated by their VoIPs, they now show little interest in receiving calls from us,” he added.
The VoIP service providers questioned the BTRC’s recommendation for a yearly loss of Tk10.73bn from incoming international telephone calls generated by the IGWs.
“The BTRC is now busy only to favour a few operators who are politically powerful,” the VSPA said.
In its recommendations recently sent to the post and telecommunication ministry, the BTRC also suggested that the government reduce the call termination rate by 50% – from $.03 to $.015 per minute.
It also proposed a change in the government’s revenue sharing structure, reducing the government’s share from existing 51.75% to 40%.
The BTRC had recommended awarding 1,000 VSP licences and the government issued 1,004.
The VSPA demanded connections to the IGWs and announced a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club on September 8 and a sit-in programme in front of BTRC office on 19.
“Give us connectivity without wasting any time, otherwise refund our licence fees,” said a leader of the VSPA.
The VSPA claimed that each operator had deposited Tk500m as licence fees and another Tk100m as VAT.
