No new ISP licence: BTRC

The government has decided not to issue new licences to internet service providers (ISPs) to avoid oversaturation in a particular area.

An emergency notification signed by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Director Md Nurunnabi was recently emailed to ISPs, requesting them not to apply for new licences until the next instructions are issued.

However, ISPs demanded there be a scope to get licences based on applications for particular locations where internet services have not reached yet.

Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) President Emdadul Haque told The Business Post they welcome the government’s move, but there should be an option to get licences to provide internet service where it is not available yet, such as hilly areas and far-flung islands.

He also urged the BTRC to allow ISPs to get licences where necessary or permission to expand their existing coverage areas without applying for new licences. “The policy should be like that. Otherwise, the people of those particular areas will be deprived of internet services.”

Around 2,000 companies are currently listed in the ISPAB database.