BTRC meets on telecom licence renewal today
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) holds a crucial meeting today on the licence renewal of mobile operators Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Citycell.
“Whatever decision comes out of the meeting will be notified to the four operators in writing,” said Zia Ahmed, chairman of BTRC.
Banglalink and Citycell deposited a combined amount of Tk 1,019 crore in spectrum fees to BTRC yesterday.
Mehboob Chowdhury, chief executive officer of Citycell, said he deposited Tk 197 crore or 49 percent of the total airwave charges.
Banglalink paid Tk 822 crore, an official of the company said. Earlier, both operators had deposited license renewal fees.
Grameenphone paid more than Tk 1,358 crore and Robi deposited more than Tk 800 crore in license renewal and spectrum fees.
Two disputed issues tied to licence renewal still remain unresolved between the regulator and the operators in the apex court of the country.
One of the issues was whether the payable amount of money should be deposited after deducting 15 percent as VAT at source or not, as BTRC issued letters to the operators to pay renewal and spectrum fees without deduction.
Recently, the National Board of Revenue has issued a letter asking all parties to pay licensing-related fees after deducting VAT at source. The 15 percent VAT will have to be deposited to the NBR, according to the letter.
The operators have paid the money to the BTRC after deducting 15 percent as VAT along with an undertaking that they would follow the court's decision.
The other issue applicable to Grameenphone and Banglalink is, whether they should pay extra money for spectrum purchase in 2008 in 1,800 megahertz band.
Robi also purchased additional spectrum in 2008, but the recent development will not affect the operator.
Grameenphone and Banglalink filed writ petitions against the BTRC on the two issues with the High Court. The court is due to hand down a verdict on November 14.
Sunil Kanti Bose, telecom secretary, said the VAT issue is applicable to all the four operators. As the government has issued the guideline its intention is clear, he added. But the parties have taken the issue to court. “Now the court's decision will be enforced,” he added.
Grameenphone yesterday wrote to the telecom ministry and BTRC, seeking to renew their licences by the November 10 deadline.
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