The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has published the second draft guidelines for Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN). The guidelines provide a regulatory and licensing framework for applicants seeking licence to develop, build, maintain and operate NTTN. BTRC has sought views from the industry and other interested quarters on various issues mentioned in the guideline.

The move is intended to establish discipline and conformity in the sector. Obtaining licence from the Commission has been made mandatory for providing telecommunication services. The government has the objective of creating NTTN with a view to separating Transmission Network Services (TNS) and Access Network Services (ANS) in future. The guidelines have been designed keeping the above objective in clear view. Cities and towns are cluttered with hazardous overhead optical fibre or cables. Multiple ANS operators have drawn access networks of optical fibre or wires leading to drainage of national resources. NTTN is expected to help de-cluttering the urban areas and minimise the wastage of resources.

The guidelines are for imposing a limit to foreign equity, which will be 60 percent at best. A foreign partner will be required to invest foreign currency directly equal to his percentage without loans from any local bank or financial institution. Mobile operators and broadband wireless access operators already having licence from the Commission shall not be eligible to apply for this licence. Licence holders under the guidelines will have to perform rollout obligations.

BTRC had issued another guideline for sharing infrastructure and transmission capacity about a couple of months ago. It aimed at promoting high quality but cheaper services throughout the country. It is expected that these guidelines would be instrumental to ensuring quality service by bringing an end to the anarchy in the telecommunication sector.