In the recent past, several illegal VoIP operations have been detected by the govt. and actions are being taken against those illegal operations. Such action has restricted their operation and as a result access to and from Bangladesh to foreign countries has been reduced considerably, though the state-owned Bangladesh T & T Board (which is the only licensed operator for overseas voice communication) is trying to augment their capabilities to cope with the demand. This cat and mouse policy cannot be a permanent solution for stopping such unauthorised VoIP operation including illegal call termination, and, as such, the government has already constituted a committee to suggest an interim solution followed by a long term solution of setting up several VoIP platforms by the BT Board to which the licensed VoIP operators (who have already been short-listed by BTRC) will be connected. Here are some suggestions which can be considered interim measures to be adopted in a considerably small span of time.

1. De-regulate PC to PC Internet Telephony immediately.

(a) It's not possible to monitor and control.

(b) It cannot have impact in ILD (International Long Distance) Traffic because of very few Internet users.

2.Permit PC to phone telephony for outward international calls to the existing ISPs.

- it provides a cheap option for ILD calls yet without impacting BTTB.

- it is difficult to separate it from data calls.

- Most of the grey ILD calls land on mobiles and fixed phones through interconnecting lines between ISP node and fixed/mobile operators' switch. As such, barring outward dialing from ISP node to telecom operators' switch will restrict such calls.

3. BTTB should expand its managed VoIP options for all destinations.

4. Increase interconnection between BTTB and mobile service operators (More than 2 crore subscribers) to enable termination of incoming calls from abroad.

5. Introduce competition through private sector participation in ILD market by issuing license for:

a) Setting up circuit switched ILD gateways as well as

b) Setting up ILD gateway with VoIP as a technology option.

BTRC is yet to publish regulations for QOS for Internet as well as VoIP based ILD service and should immediately consider issuing broad QOS regulation stipulating some minimum benchmarks to be achieved for the sake of safeguarding the interest of the consumers.