BTRC to raise watch over telecom companies

Underscoring the importance of providing quality mobile network services to subscribers, the head of Bangladesh's telecom regulator has said they will soon raise vigilance over telecom companies in the country.

"Currently, there are four telecom operators — Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink and Teletalk," Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Shyam Sunder Sikder told reporters.

"In the wake of the rising number of complaints, including call drops and slow internet services, against these operators, we have decided to increase watch over their networks. The move is aimed at ensuring quality services to subscribers."

The BTRC chairman said the commission also plans to update the existing guidelines for the telecom operators.

"Besides, adequate spectrum is needed to ensure quality services to customers. We would encourage the operators to purchase the necessary spectrum. If needed, we will hold a meeting with them," said Shyam Sunder.

Talking about the manpower crisis, the BTRC chairman said: “We are going through a manpower crisis as well as some technical difficulties.”

"The ISP licence holders are involved in sharing data. It is our responsibility to ensure uninterrupted services to customers and we are working towards that. We will also work towards removing the weakness in technology,” he said.

“As per the government’s order, we want to introduce 5G by 2023 and we are already working on it. We have already launched 4G services. Now preparations are being taken to allocate new spectrum for 5G mobile operators and a policy will be finalized soon," the BTRC chairman said.

Unauthorized mobile phone handsets will be blocked on July 1. "All makes of mobile phones will have to go through mandatory registration process in Bangladesh," the telecom regulator boss said.

“BTRC plans to launch the National Equipment Identification Registrar (NEIR) on July 1 this year. No illegal handsets will be allowed to be used in the country’s telecom network after that,” the BTRC chairman stressed.

In December last year, the BTRC signed an agreement with local company Synesis IT to identify and disconnect handsets that were brought to the country illegally.

From January 16 this year, mobile operators will manually inform the subscribers about the handsets that have International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). Also, everyone will have to register their handsets.

Mobile phones with fake/clone IMEIs will be detected through the National Equipment Identity Register and disconnected from network, the BTRC said.

The number of mobile subscribers in Bangladesh reached 162.92 million by the end of April 2020, according to data provided by the BTRC.

Of the total subscribers, Grameenphone Ltd has 74.361 million, Robi Axita Ltd 48.843 million, Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd 34.876 million and Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd 4.84 million.