Dhaka:The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has intensified its efforts to recover approximately Tk 48.60 crore in unpaid dues from operators across various segments of the telecommunications sector. This initiative involves a combination of financial recovery measures, penalties, bandwidth restrictions, and potential licence cancellations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the commission's recent meeting outlined recovery strategies targeting unpaid bandwidth charges from international internet gateway (IIG) operators, regulatory arrears from the mobile number portability (MNP) service provider, and outstanding licence and annual fees from internet protocol telephony service providers (IPTSPs).
Of the total amount, Tk 34.62 crore is owed by IPTSP operators, Tk 8.96 crore by IIG operators, and Tk 5.01 crore by the country's sole MNP service provider, Infozillion Teletech BD Ltd. An audit identified claims of Tk 9,47,97,344 against 26 IIG operators for unbilled bandwidth usage. While Tk 51.14 lakh has been recovered, Tk 8.96 crore remains outstanding.
The BTRC has permitted some operators to settle their liabilities through installments. For instance, Cybergate Ltd. paid Tk 5 lakh and will pay the remaining Tk 33.19 lakh in 12 monthly installments, subject to a 15% annual late fee. Earth Telecommunication Ltd. has also been allowed to pay its remaining dues in installments. The commission's Legal and Licensing Division will handle recovery from other defaulting IIG operators, including Mango Teleservices Ltd., Aamra Technologies Ltd., and others.
In the IPTSP sector, unpaid licence and annual fees total Tk 34,62,07,636. The BTRC has cancelled 18 licences and initiated legal recovery actions against Digital Connectivity Ltd. and IDEA Networks and Communications Ltd. Additionally, a 50% bandwidth cap has been imposed on defaulting operational IPTSPs.
Infozillion Teletech BD Ltd. owes Tk 5,01,67,818 in accumulated arrears, comprising unadjusted revenue share, late fees, VAT, and other obligations. The company failed to comply with a previous agreement for installment payments, leading to a Tk 1 lakh fine and further action by the Legal and Licensing Division.
The commission has also taken action against ISPs for non-compliance with data submission requirements, issuing show-cause notices to 116 licensees. Penalties were imposed based on their responses, and non-compliant operators face potential licence cancellations.
Additional fines were levied on Earth Telecommunication Ltd. and Fiber@Home Ltd. for unauthorized operations and agreements. These measures reflect a broader regulatory effort to enforce compliance and recover outstanding revenues in the telecommunications industry.