The Bangladesh Army has applied for an internet service provider’s licence to the country’s telecom regulator for better running their own services, sources say.
The existing telecom act neither necessitates a defence force to have a separate ISP licence, nor prohibits it. The act says security forces, including the army, will not need to have ISP licences; they can enjoy the facilities under existing arrangements.
A senior official of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said they had recently received an application in this regard from the General Staff Branch under the Information Technology Directorate of the Army Headquarters.
According to the application, the army says the ISP will not be used for commercial purposes.
The Army Headquarters claims that it has one of the largest data networks in the country which it now wants to expand.
“Bangladesh Army maintains one of the largest data networks in the county, extending its network and data services to the remotest locations of the county including the Chittagong Hill Tracts,” the application reads.
It also says: “In addition to customised data services and applications, the organisation also provides internet services to all garrisons in the county through suitable gateway at major locations.”
The application says currently the army is using a 324-Mbps bandwidth and their requirements are increasing every day.
The application has already been discussed at a meeting of the BTRC. The commission has reportedly wanted to know more about why the army needs the licence for, the areas the dedicated ISP will be used and the future plans.
“As per a decision made in the commission meeting, we have sent a letter to the Army Headquarters. Once we get the reply, we will place it before the commission again,” a senior BTRC official told the Dhaka Tribune seeking anonymity.
Another senior official says since there is no bar, the army, upon fulfilling necessary conditions, can get a no objection certificate (NOC) from the BTRC and proceed with getting its own ISP licence.
The meeting also reportedly discussed that the army would need to submit to the commission an interconnection agreement with an international internet gateway (IIG) operator. If the BTRC does not vet, any such agreement will not be effective.
The army would also have to agree to not bypass the licenced IIG in transmitting international incoming and outgoing data, meeting sources said.
Commission’s approval would be needed for importing ISP equipment as well. In case, the army decided to sell any of the equipment, it would have to again get permission from the BTRC explaining the reason and prospective buyers and other particulars.
The BTRC has awarded 535 ISP licences in six different categories.
