The private sector telecommunication operators have not paid the regulator a revenue of Tk3,036 crore, which is over 55% of what Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission contributed to the national exchequer in the last fiscal year.
The outstanding revenue was, however, accumulated over a period of seven years since 2007 to mid-November last year, according to a report BTRC submitted to its 161th commission meeting recently.
“Gateway operators, especially international gateways (IGWs), mainly contributed to increase the outstanding. As most of them are politically influential, BTRC could not take action against them,” a high official at the telecom watchdog told the Dhaka Tribune.
The private operators have not fully paid the fees, charges and revenue sharing, contributing to accumulate the outstanding – it increased by over 16% only in four and half months from Tk2,611 crore as of June last year.
During the period, the outstanding of two state-owned companies – Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) and Teletalk – reduced by about Tk175 crore or 11%.
According to a report BTRC sent to the post and telecommunication ministry, BTCL’s outstanding was about Tk1,625 crore in June last year, which came down to Tk1,450 crore. Another state owned company Teletak, the country’s first 3G mobile phone operator, also paid a substantial amount of the dues as it now came down to about Tk28 crore from about Tk32 crore in June.
After June outstanding revenue of some 28 private IGW operators was Tk500 crore, but it went up to Tk946 crore in mid-November last year. Only six politically-backed IGWs’ increased the dues by more than Tk600 crore, sources said.
Of them, BTRC last week filed a certificate case against Telex Ltd having an outstanding of only Tk92.5 crore.
But other operators owned by former ministers’ daughters, sons and close relations are opportune ones that have not faced any legal action yet.
The total due of the Interconnection Exchange (ICX) operators was Tk211 crore in June last year, but after November it stood at Tk249 crore while that of International Internet Gateway (IIG) amounts increased to about Tk9 crore from Tk30 lakh only.
Citycell, the oldest mobile phone operator, could not pay any money in 2013. Their total dues stood at Tk249 crore till mid-November, rising from Tk145 crore in June. BTRC had sent a letter to Citycell and gave them 15 days ultimatum in the last week of November, but the deadline is already over.
Of the Citycell’s outstanding, 2G licence renewal fee is Tk229 crore and others are spectrum charge, revenue sharing and social obligation fund.
The two Wi-Max operators – Banglalion and Qubee – owe to the telecom regulator respectively Tk33 crore and Tk18 crore, which was Tk29 crore and Tk15 crore in June last year. Besides, 12 private land phone (PSTN) operators have not paid Tk30 crore. Different private companies, internet service providers (ISPs) and some government departments have not deposited spectrum charges amounting to about Tk26 crore, which was Tk24 crore in June last year.
Source: Dhaka Tribune