Mandatory launching of 10-second pulse
5 mobile cos may get more time
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission is likely to give five mobile companies more time to introduce a minimum 10-second pulse on each call, commission officials said Monday.
Out of six mobile companies in the country only state-run Teletalk introduced the 10-second pulse within the BTRC set deadline of August 15.
BTRC instructed the six operators including Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Citycell and Airtel to introduce 10-second pulse for the clients but other than Teletalk all the operators were reluctant to introduce the system on a wholesale basis.
Chairman of the Association Mobile Operators of Bangladesh met the BTRC chairman on Monday after the commission had served show-cause notice on five companies last week for not carrying out its instruction.
‘The AMTOB president said the mobile companies would need more time to introduce the 10-second pulse on each call. The association will send a letter in the evening today (Monday) outlining its stance on the matter,’ BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed told New Age on Monday evening.
AMTOB president Mehboob Chowdhury, who is also the managing director and chief executive officer Citycell, and Airtel Bangladesh CEO Chris Tobit were present at the meeting with Zia.
The AMTOB leaders said if the mobile companies introduce 10-second pulse on every call, it would cut down their revenue as well as the government’s revenue from the sector.
They also said mobile companies would also introduce more packages with a minimum 10-second pulse.
BTRC chairman differed, saying the government’s revenue from the sector would rise as people would be encouraged to make more calls if 10-second pulse is introduced.
Zia told New Age, ‘One will talk for five seconds and pay for a minute, which is illogical. That’s why BTRC has decided to implement 10-second pulse.’
He said the commission would hold a meeting today (Tuesday) to discuss about the AMTOB letter.
‘If they seek reasonable time to implement the decision, we will consider it,’ he said.
-With New Age input
