It is concerning that the government has not ensured a successful resolution to the various disputes which arose out of its 2013 auction of the 3G spectrum.
With a new auction planned to be held on April 30, for the 1,800 MHz and 2,100 MHz bands, the ICT ministry needs to ensure the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission fully addresses the ongoing concerns being raised by leading telecoms businesses in the country.
The fact that the parent companies of the four leading mobile operators in Bangladesh have all expressed their inability to participate in the upcoming spectrum auction indicates the urgency of the need to resolve outstanding concerns and issues.
If full participation is not ensured, there is a very real risk that the auction will neither raise the hoped for revenue desired by the taxpayer, nor be successful in efficiently delivering improvements for consumers.
The government must act to ensure that BTRC acts as a fair and open regulator. Its prime purpose is to ensure a level playing field of regulation that facilitates the marketplace and encourages investment. This is undermined by concerns about past favoritism shown to for certain operators and bidders and rules discriminating against others.
BTRC must act promptly and impartially to address these types of issue. It also needs to think more broadly about the fitness for purpose of some of the rules governing telecommunication regulation, for instance on VoIP services.
The regulator must function more effectively on helping to open the marketplace, not limit it.
