Private exchanges promise to cut call-barring monopoly
Two interconnection exchanges (ICXs) launched by local private operators promise to reduce telecom companies' traditional call barring practice.
The companies that went into operation yesterday aim to forward both local and international calls to users through different telecom operators.
M&H Telecom and Getco Telecommunications, the two local private ICX operators, along with state-run BTCL, have been appointed to handle around 5.5 crore-minute local phone calls a day.
The ICX is a switching system, which provides interconnection among telecommunication networks of operators and allows monitoring and "lawful" interception facilities.
According to the ICX policy, the three companies will share 30 percent of the calls each in forwarding local and foreign calls generated by both mobile and landline operators. The rest 10 percent calls will remain open to competition.
"I believe the market's monopoly by the big operators will be removed," said BTRC Chairman Manzurul Alam at the launch of the private ICXs.
Big operators will no longer be able to refuse to take small operators' calls, as ICXs are appointed to handle the calls, the BTRC chief said.
The BTRC chief said: "The government revenue from the telecom sector will increase significantly thanks to these exchanges."
The government will earn about Tk 1,500 crore a year from the exchanges, he said.
Meanwhile, after last week's debut by Mir Telecom, two other private international gateways (IGWs) -- Novotel and Bangla Trac Communications -- announced their operations yesterday.
Although it is difficult to monitor telecom operators' interconnection, the BTRC chairman said, the introduction of ICXs may help create a level playing field in the market.
Industry insiders differ.
They said every call generates revenue -- the reason nobody wants to refuse other operators' calls.
Tarique E Haque, managing director of Bangla Trac said: "We have installed state-of-the-art Ericsson's technology including AXE-810-based telephony server operating on EIN 3.1."
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