Overhead cables, other issues to be fixed in phases: BTRC

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to bring a timely change to telecommunication transmission service and settle all outstanding issues, including overhead cable removal, in phases.

The decision was announced during a meeting between BTRC officials and Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) operators at BTRC on Monday afternoon.

At the meeting arranged by Engineering and Operations Division, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder made a firm commitment to the operators that necessary steps will be taken to address the existing problems in the sector.

He said, "I will sit with all the operators. The issues are now being identified, and the commission will solve them in phases."

He sought support and cooperation from the operators to improve and upgrade the sector.

The operators demanded a lasting solution to a range of complex issues, including removal of overhead cables, sustainable pricing of NTTN services, setting the work range of BTRC licensees, as well as updating the concerned guidelines, and regular surveillance.

In response, the commission said a body formed by the Post and Telecommunication Division was working to set he NTTN tariff. It called upon the relevant stakeholders to conduct their activities responsibly in accordance with the prevailing guidelines and to maintain relations with reliable operators and licensees.

Among others, BTRC's Legal and Licensing Commissioner Abu Syed Diljar Hussain; BTCL Managing Director Dr Md Rafiqul Matin; BTRC Director General (Spectrum) Brigadier General Md Shahidul Alam, and other senior officials were present at the meeting.