BTRC to scrap another 204 ISP licences

The telecom regulator is going to scrap licences of 204 internet service providers (ISPs) from August 25 in a bid to strengthen ICT security.

These ISPs did not respond to the queries by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in the last one year.

BTRC yesterday directed all international internet gateway (IGW) operators not to provide bandwidth to these ISPs from August 25.

MA Hakim, president of Internet Service Providers' Association of Bangladesh, said they received a letter from the regulator.

"As far as we know, most ISPs on the list have been out of business for the last couple of years, so if these licences are cancelled, it will not impact the industry," said Hakim.

Currently, there are 34 lakh internet connections provided by ISPs across the country, according to the regulator. BTRC will also take legal action against these 204 ISPs, under Telecom Act 2010, reads the letter.

Earlier in 2015, the regulator cancelled 63 lSP licences in two different initiatives.

Senior officials of the telecom regulator said the government last year asked all the ISPs to provide a list of their clients, and their total bandwidth consumption with some other technical information. But these 204 ISPs did not comply with the directive.

The telecom watchdog cancelled some VSAT licences last year as well, including the connections at some foreign embassies in Dhaka, for not renewing their licences in time. VSAT (very small aperture terminal) systems provide high speed, broadband satellite communications for internet or private network communications. According to the BTRC website, there are 557 ISPs. The regulator has also taken an initiative to amend the guidelines for the ISPs.