Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Maj Gen Md Emdad Ul Bari (retd) today vowed to ensure affordable, diverse and safe services, saying data prices have to be cut down as it is the key part of his desired service delivery.

“We want to make the services safe, affordable and diverse, and we will do whatever is required for it,” he said.

The chairman expressed this determination while speaking at a roundtable discussion “Importance of telecommunication networks to meet future challenges”, organized by Telecom and Technology Reporters’ Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) in a city hotel.

He said, “We want to do this in a transparent way in consultation with industry, public and the persons who are experienced in these matters,” he added.

Emdad Ul Bari also talked about the necessity of reducing data prices as it is the key to delivering services, saying “At the end of day, data prices must be cut down because it is part of my service delivery plan.”

He, however, said that it cannot be possible to survive by putting the network in jeopardy only by cutting data prices.

“Our bottom line approach is to make the service available to the people,” he said, adding, “It’s not our primary goal to make the business sustainable, we will do business sustainable as a means. Our aim is service.”

The chairman said they will do whatever is required to outreach the services. “If we think 2-4 NTTN companies in combine can create value, we will restrict here, if we don't think so, we will increase (the NTTN license),” he added.

“We want to switch from voice friendly network to data friendly network,” he hinted.

About unified license, he said it is a matter of study while technology-neutrality is a debate of business. “We have to do all things after a comprehensive thinking,” he said, highlighting that a number of major licenses will expire within 2027 from now.

“Without taking hasty move, we want to do a better think through consultation with all stakeholders,” adding, “Where we can establish a sustainable network, a sustainable regime, and ensure a level playing field so everyone can do their job and nobody becomes the giant.

He continued, “If anyone becomes weak, we will support them through policy.”

Stating that telecommunication infrastructures related business required big investments which everyone can’t do business, the BTRC chairman said the country’s young generation has the scope to do business in some areas with small amounts of investment.

“A large good number of young people can do digital services and internet services or related business,” he said, adding, “If the young people wouldn’t have engaged in these types of business, they would be involved with different types of activities disliked by many of us”.

He said, “We want to scale up this business in such a way so that a large number of young people can do it.”

“Whatever network structure we plan, this consideration will be there,” he said, mentioning that they don’t want to compromise in this area,” he added.

Regarding the licenses in different layers, he said a number of licenses should be suspended as it is not logical to issue a huge number of licenses.

In this context, he referred to the international gateway license, saying BTRC suggested the government to issue 4-6 licenses, but 27-28 licenses were issued at that time.

“Similarly, I think that the NTTN license shouldn’t be more . . . it should be limited,” he added.

The BTRC chairman, however, said it would also be kept in mind that “whether we become hostage to 2/3 companies”.

He went on, “if we see the nation becomes struck by 2/3 companies, we will issue more licenses”.

Former President of TRNB Rashed Mehedi made keynote presentation on the issue.

With TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey in the chair, general secretary Masuduzzaman Robin delivered welcome address.

Teletalk Managing Director (Additional Charge) Nurul Mabud Chowdhury, Fiber@Home Managing Director Moinul Huq Siddiki, Robi Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Shahed Alam, Banglalink Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Taimur Rahman, AMTOB Secretary General Lt Col Mohammad Zulfikar (retd), ISPAB President Emdadul Hoque, Summit Communications Chief Network Architect Farrukh Imtiaz, Dhaka University teacher Mosaddek Kamal Tushar, BRAC University Teacher Saimum Reza Talukder, among others, also spoke.