BTRC formulating integrated service quality regulation

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has formed a committee to formulate an integrated regulation on service quality for all kinds of telecom service providers to ensure better satisfaction of end users.

Currently there are about 500 service providers such as mobile phone, internet service, Wi-Max and landphone operators who are directly connecting a telecom service to users.

The telecom regulator says there are over 14 crore registered connections availing the services.

The BTRC earlier formulated a service quality guideline for mobile operators, who are yet to accept it.

The new regulation will concentrate on every service, meaning there will be specific quality requirements, said a top official, who is also a member of the committee.

The Quality of Service Regulations of BTRC 2017 will also contain provisions for punitive measures.

The parameters of quality would be determined based on service and technology.

Stakeholders' opinion, customers' interest, status in neighbouring countries and suggestions of international organisations will also be taken into cognizance while drafting the regulations.

Besides, issues like practicality, acceptance, green telecommunication and alignment with the existing telecom act will also get priority, said officials.

The BTRC issued a regulation for mobile operators in August this year, asking them to ensure a minimum 512 kilobits per second (kbps) of downlink speed in 3G-covered areas and 768 kbps after one year.

As for uploading speed, the operators would have to ensure a minimum 50 kbps for now and 70 Kbps after a year.

In case of 2G, the downloading speed must be a minimum 80 kbps and uploading 20 kbps.