43 firms shortlisted for final bid to get 3 licences

BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission) has shortlisted forty-three local firms out of 57 for the final bidding process of awarding 3 international internet gateway (IIG) and interconnection exchange (ICX) licences.
The telecom regulator sent letters yesterday to the qualified bidders. Of them, only two companies will get ICX licences and one IIG licence.
Responding to the BTRC's invitation, 18 local firms submitted their proposals for IIG licence and 39 for ICX licenses.
The telecom watchdog has a plan to provide six licenses to the local firms operating international call termination gateway, internet and interconnection exchange. It has taken such initiative in an attempt to prevent illegal international call termination business by both mobile and fixed phone operators.
International incoming and outgoing voice calls including VoIP will be routed through ICX services. IIG services will act as an internet gateway for routing international incoming and outgoing internet based data traffic.
Two new ICXs of two operators will be in Dhaka in addition to BTTB ICXs and one each at Chittagong and Khulna by one operator and in Sylhet and Bogra by the other operator.
The IIG licensee should establish two 'points of presence' (POP) in addition to the existing IIG services of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone (BTTB). One POP will have to be set up in Dhaka and another in Chittagong to commence the IIG services.
As per the BTRC letters to the shortlisted bidders, auction for ICX and IIG will be held on February20 and 25 in Dhaka respectively. A bidder interested to get ICX licence is required to deposit Tk3 crore as security money with the BTRC through a pay order within 7 working days after the receipt of the letter.
The prospective IIG licensee is required to deposit Tk1lakh with the BTRC within the similar period to participate in the final bid.
Earlier on Sunday, the telecom regulator selected 37 local companies to participate in the final bidding process.
BTRC officials are hopeful of awarding the companies licences by this month.
“We are working to provide these gateways licenses by this month, because illegal international call termination and VoIP activities are still run by scrupulous businessmen,” said a high official of BTRC.