Internet Service Providers Association Bangladesh: News

The country's telecom watchdog has fined Grameenphone Tk168.40 crore for illegal VoIP (voice over internet protocol) business.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Major General (retd) Manzurul Alam yesterday confirmed GP's involvement in the illegal trade.

Talking to The Daily Star, he said, "GP has already paid Tk 56 crore in the first instalment. Rest of the money will be paid within a short time in two instalments."

But GP in a statement yesterday said it has agreed to make a one-time payment to the government as compensation for loss of revenue.

BTRC detected GP's illegal VoIP operation at its Moghbazar office in the capital during a continued drive against such illegal trade.

Manzurul said, "Our drive against any illegal activities in the telecommunication sector will continue."

According to BTRC sources, a case against GP was filed on February 12 after the authorities had busted an indoor base station of GP at Moghbazar and found special SIM cards.

BTRC sources said that since January, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has detected several dozen illegal VoIP operations and some of these concern directly or indirectly GP, Aktel and Banglalink. Further investigation is going on against other phone companies.

The government has already filed cases against GP, Aktel and Banglalink for illegal VoIP operation, the sources said. BTRC had earlier fined some other cell phone companies for indulging in illegal VoIP business.

A Rab team had earlier met Banglalink authorities and showed them the evidence it gathered on the company's illegal VoIP operation. The authorities admitted that illegal VoIP operators used their equipment for such operation in the past but stopped it in January.

Aktel's massive illegal VoIP operation was also detected in the recent past in a Rab raid at its office in Gulshan. Rab recovered huge equipment along with financial records which indicate that Aktel was earning between Tk 100 crore and Tk 180 crore a year from this operation. A case was filed against the company.

GP'S VERSION
In a press release yesterday, GP said the company has agreed to make a one-time payment to the government as compensation for revenue loss due to use of GP subscriptions by some customers to illegally transfer international calls.

GP has fully cooperated with the law enforcement agencies and BTRC investigating the case.

GP has not actively taken enough measures to prevent the use of its products by some customers for illegally terminating international calls. Acknowledging that this has caused the government loss of revenues, GP has agreed to pay compensation for it, the press release said.

"In this case, measures for monitoring general usage by certain customers groups could have prevented customers wrongful use of our products and thus loss of revenue for the government. Such measures are now being taken," said Anders Jensen, chief executive officer (CEO) of GP.

"This practice has been increasing over the last few years, leading to illegal termination into most mobile operators networks. The government is now focusing on this practice. We support all law enforcement activities to ensure that the telecommunication sector in Bangladesh and the customers adhere to the laws and regulations of the country," he said.

"We also support all discussions on how to ensure a level-playing field in the industry," Jensen said.

Posted by on Monday 08 October 2007 - 20:55:02 |

Read/Post Comment: 41 |

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asif
31 Dec : 10:23

voip shob deshe jodi easy ar legal hoy, tahole amra ki alien naki? gu kheye boro hoisi? amader deshe koti taka lage keno ar illegal keno?

asif
31 Dec : 10:22

voip shob deshe jodi easy ar legal hoy, tahole amra ki alien naki? gu kheye boro hoisi? amader deshe koti taka lage kenjo ar illegal keno?

Mostafiz
15 Jun : 11:04

Hello! I need a Telecommunication/ ISP Professional who will be expert in knowledge of Telecommunication, specially VSAT, RF, familiar with TDM/TDMA VSAT, DVB RCS product SCPC Modem. Can anybody hep me finding an expert of such professional/

ispsarethieves
25 Jan : 00:29

which mobile company's internet gives highest speed, other than zoom?

rajronju
04 Nov : 12:40

"GP fined Tk 168cr for illegal VoIP operation"
why that news had not published any reputed daily newspaper?

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