BTRC blocks one IGW, restricts 17 others over unpaid dues

The telecom regulator has completely blocked one international gateway (IGW) and restricted the services of 17 others, due to unpaid dues of around Tk 350 crore.
“We had earlier decided that if the IGWs failed to deposit their bills by August 26, they would face punitive actions. That decision has now been implemented,” said Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
The IGWs, which transport international calls for telecom operators to the country, are supposed to settle their quarterly dues with the regulator within 25 days of the quarter's end. But the penalised companies have not been following the directive for the past six months.
The blocked IGW, Telex, however, have bills pending since October 2011, said a BTRC official. Its outstanding dues have now run into the region of Tk 62 crore.
The company is still in operation, but is not responding to the regulator's communication, the official said. “We will issue a show-cause letter to the gateway for payment. Otherwise, its licence will be cancelled and more legal action will be taken.”
Meanwhile, the other 17 IGWs, which have partially paid their dues, are facing a restriction on the number of calls they can transport a day.