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BTRC tells operators to pay up

Posted by bangladesh

The telecoms watchdog has sent letters to the four mobile-phone operators asking them to pay up Tk 8.57 billion in arrears, late fees and renewal charges for 2G licences.

A top official of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told bdnews24.com on Wednesday evening that the letters were picked up by the representatives of Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Citycell from their office.

BTRC chief Zia Ahmed said that the operators would have to make the payments within the next 10 days. "Their licences will not be renewed unless they deposit the money."

He told bdnews24.com on Tuesday that the letters would be readied on Wednesday.

Clarifying on the arrears, the BTRC official said that the four operators paid the first instalment of the licence renewal and spectrum fees after deducting 15 percent tax at source in Nov 2011.

Other than this, the operators also deducted 15 percent from their annual license renewal fee, revenue sharing and spectrum charge in 2010.

The total arrears from Nov 2011 and 2010 have accrued to Tk 578.2 million.

The biggest telecoms operator, Grameenphone will have to pay Tk 3.96 billion for renewal of their 2G licence along with the late fees, the top BTRC official said.

Of the amount, Tk 2.49 billion is for the first instalment for licence renewal and spectrum fee including the late fees and Tk 1.47 billion will have to be paid as late fee and other charges from 2010.

Robi's dues amount to Tk 1.99 billion which includes Tk 1.47 billion for licence renewal including late fees while another Tk 525.9 million are arrears along with late fees from 2010.

Licence renewal charges and 2010 arrears along with late fees amount to Tk 2.18 billion for Banglalink. This includes Tk 1.52 billion as renewal charges along with late fees while another Tk 652.3 million will have to be paid as arrears from 2010 and their late fees.

Citycell is to pay a total Tk 442.4 million including licence renewal charges, arrears from 2010 and the resulting late fees. Licence renewal with late fees will cost Tk 359.7 million and arrears along with its late fee will be Tk 82.6 million.

REACTIONS

Grameenphone's chief communications officer Kazi Monirul Kabir told bdnews24.com, "We did not receive any such letter from BTRC until 7pm on Wednesday. We will comment after we get the letter."

Banglalink's regulatory affairs general manager Mashid Rahman said, "We have got the BTRC letter, they have told us to pay within 10 days."

Robi's vice-president Mohiuddin Babar confirmed the receipt of the letter and said that they will give their reaction later.

Citycell's head of corporate communications Taslin Ahmed said they received the letter but will also give their reaction later.

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