The New Nation - Internet Edition

NATION BUSINESS REPORT

The first license of Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) was handed over to Fiber@Home Limited at a function at BTRC office, IEB Bhaban, Ramna in the city yesterday.

Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Maj Gen (Retd) Manzurul Alam handed over the license to Managing Director of Fiber@Home Limited Moynul Haque Siddiqui.

Speaking on the occasion, the BTRC chairman termed the NTTN license as the first step to build 'Digital Bangladesh' by 2021, which was committed by the new government led by Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

"Providing NTTN license would definitely help expansion of telecommunication network across the country," he said.

Alam said, without infrastructure development, information technology could not be reached to the doorsteps of the rural people. "If we could spread infrastructure facilities across the country implementation of e-governance would be easier," he added.

The BTRC chairman said, with the completion of NTTN, rural people would be connected with telecommunication and internet network, and internet penetration would be increased to a greater extent.

Besides, he said, it would remove overhead cable hazards in urban areas.

Describing NTTN as a milestone for the development of information technology in the country, Managing Director of Fibre @ Home Limited Moynul Haque Siddiqui said, it would take the nation towards prosperity long ahead.

He hoped that densely populated cities of the country would be brought under the network within six months and the facilities would reach at least 20 upazilas by the next one year. BTRC sources said, Fibre @ Home Limited will set up and run optical fibre-based NTTN which will help telecom service providers to give service up to 'end users'.

As per the NTTN guideline, a licensee requires to submit a bank guarantee as security deposit worth Tk 100 million in favour of the BTRC within 15 days of issuance of licence with minimum validity of five years.

Foreign equity of any interested firm will be limited to 60 per cent.

The BTRC said the overseas partner shall directly invest in foreign currency equal to his percentage of ownership and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi scheduled bank or financial institution or leasing company can be raised for the overseas part of the investment.

For the non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) a maximum of 70 per cent of Foreign Direct Investment will be allowed but no loans can be raised locally from any financial institution.

A partnership/consortium of Non Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) and foreign equity without Bangladeshi partners will not be allowed, the BTRC sources said.

The duration of the licence might be initially for a term of 15 years.