Home ›› 26 Aug 2020 ›› Front
Internet service providers and subscribers are in trouble due to removal of overhead cable by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) through its mobile court. Association of the internet service providers namely Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) alleges over cutting of their fiber optic cable without serving any prior notice.
As per ISPAB so far around 20 thousand customers have no internet connection. Some of the customers were provided connection after the drive and DSCC has not cut down those cables.
Meanwhile, DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said that all necessary measures will be taken for the beautification of the city.
Internet service providers and the customers expressed dissatisfaction over the drive conducted by DSCC. ISPAB alleges to have suffered huge loss as cables worth billions of taka have been cut down all of a sudden.
DSCC has removed internet and dish cables hanging over the road posing risk in a number of drives in old town, Jigatola, Mogbazar, Dhanmondi, Azimpur, Lalbag, Basabo of the capital. In consequence, around 1 lac subscribers were disconnected instantly from the emergency service declared by the government. Although the internet service providers reconnected some of the subscribers but around 20 thousand subscribers still remains disconnected.
DSCC Mayor has clearly said that no overhead cable will be retained for the beautification of the city. The Mayor alleges that the source providers do not comply with any rules.
While announcing the budget of the city corporation the Mayor said: “We will remove all overhead cables from Dhaka south city even if those cables are owned by any internet service provider or any other government agency.
Dhaka South City Corporation launched the drive soon after Mayor’s announcement causing misery of ordinary people.
Md. Sohel Ahmed, a resident of old town of the capital, expressed his grievance after losing his internet connection and said that not all offices are open due to the lockdown. Those, who are doing office from home, are in big trouble as they have to purchase data on mobile internet which is expensive due to losing their internet connection without any prior notice.
Refat Hossain, a resident of Azimpur, said that all of their activities are dependent on internet after the lockdown. His daughter a student of class three could not attend online classes due to sudden cut down of internet cable. Refat’s wife Saika Zaman has to be in trouble while doing office from home.
According to the internet service providers this is an ongoing problem. Those who have license to own underground cables also have overhead cables. Even though the government has provided license to five companies for underground cabling across the country the ISPs are not getting services as per their expectation.
Sabbir Ahmed, Chief Technical Officer of Exored Online, said to the Business Post that cables hanging over the streets look odd and poses risk to some extent. According to him one of the main reasons behind overhead cables is not having permission for underground cables.
According to him the internet service providers have been providing internet services from the very outset of the epidemic risking their lives thereby keeping the country moving. Due to their uninterrupted service the subscribers have been able to work from home, attend online classes and maintain communication along with having entertainment. But their investment and future are now at risk.
President of IPSPAB Aminul Hakim said to the Business Post that it is not possible to remedy this problem. There is not sufficient number of NTTN services (underground cable lines) in the areas where internet cables have been cut down. In consequence, those areas do not have the facility to provide underground cable connections. Overhead cables have to be used as there is no last mile connectivity.
Aminul Hakim, referring to the damages inflicted by DSCC drive, said that their cables worth five crore taka have been rendered totally unusable. Total picture of the damages will be drawn upon getting the bills on next month he added.
According to him most of the corporate offices, banks, mobile financing services do not pay the bills in full when their network remains down. Moreover, costs related to administration and management have huge impact as well.
Replying to a question, he said to have seated with the Chief Revenue Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation regarding this matter when the latter has verbally ordered IPSPAB to pay Tk 25 lakh as revenue in a year which is not at all logical. This is because it is not possible to pay such a huge amount for many small companies having capital of Tk 8 to 10 lakh and making profits worth Tk 10 to 15 thousand per month. IPSPAB will formally express their opinion upon any written order served by the DSCC.
It is not possible to get the feedback of the Chief Revenue Officer of the Dhaka South City Corporation Amiurl Haque and other responsible officials when contacted on behalf of the Business Post.
An officer of the DSCC subject to anonymity said that the Mayor is desirous to beautify the capital which requires cooperation from all the quarters. The problem between the internet service providers and the city corporation is not new. They have not paid attention to this issue although they were made aware of it for many times earlier. That is why this time the DSCC has taken strict measure.
It is possible to solve this problem through negotiation with the cable operators and through plans jointly taken by the parties involved.
aa/wi
