Economic Reporter :
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has rejected Grameenphone’s petition for revising the fine of Taka 30 crore that was imposed for providing unauthorised services by the operator.
A Tk 30 crore fine was slapped on GP for providing internet broadband service to clients breaching the Telecommunications Act 2001
However, the regulator has also directed the country’s leading operator to deposit the fine of Tk 30 crore to the national exchequer within 10 days, otherwise legal action would be taken. The 201th meeting of the commission has upheld the decision taken earlier scrapping the plea filed by the operator, according to the official documents.
Talking to the New Nation, BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood recently said the commission has rejected the appeal. “So Grameenphone has no option, they have to pay the money.” However, Grameenphone official said they were yet to receive any letter from BTRC.
BTRC Secretary and Spokesperson Sarwar Alam said that they will send the letter within one or two days.
In October last year, the telecom regulator has slapped a Tk 30 crore fine on Grameenphone for providing internet broadband service to clients breaching the Telecommu-nications Act 2001.
The penalty is related to Grameenphone’s “Go Broadband” initiative, a high-speed internet service offered by Agni Systems and ADN Telecom in partnership with the operator. The network solutions were provided to Sonali Bank.
In December, 2014, Grameenphone signed a bilateral agreement with Sonali Bank to set up last-mile connectivity for the bank through a fibre optic network. But, rules do not permit a mobile operator to deploy fibre optic cables. Later, the operator revised the agreement and incorporated AND Telecom and Agni System.
Following the introduction of the service, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) lodged a complaint to the regulator that GO Broadband was providing point-to-point data connectivity with transmission to some commercial banks.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has rejected Grameenphone’s petition for revising the fine of Taka 30 crore that was imposed for providing unauthorised services by the operator.
A Tk 30 crore fine was slapped on GP for providing internet broadband service to clients breaching the Telecommunications Act 2001
However, the regulator has also directed the country’s leading operator to deposit the fine of Tk 30 crore to the national exchequer within 10 days, otherwise legal action would be taken. The 201th meeting of the commission has upheld the decision taken earlier scrapping the plea filed by the operator, according to the official documents.
Talking to the New Nation, BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood recently said the commission has rejected the appeal. “So Grameenphone has no option, they have to pay the money.” However, Grameenphone official said they were yet to receive any letter from BTRC.
BTRC Secretary and Spokesperson Sarwar Alam said that they will send the letter within one or two days.
In October last year, the telecom regulator has slapped a Tk 30 crore fine on Grameenphone for providing internet broadband service to clients breaching the Telecommu-nications Act 2001.
The penalty is related to Grameenphone’s “Go Broadband” initiative, a high-speed internet service offered by Agni Systems and ADN Telecom in partnership with the operator. The network solutions were provided to Sonali Bank.
In December, 2014, Grameenphone signed a bilateral agreement with Sonali Bank to set up last-mile connectivity for the bank through a fibre optic network. But, rules do not permit a mobile operator to deploy fibre optic cables. Later, the operator revised the agreement and incorporated AND Telecom and Agni System.
Following the introduction of the service, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) lodged a complaint to the regulator that GO Broadband was providing point-to-point data connectivity with transmission to some commercial banks.
