Govt moves to open VoIP

Cabinet decides to issue more licences to stop its illegal use
The government has decided in principle to issue more VoIP licences for handling international calls to trigger a price war and bring illegal VoIP operators under a legal framework.
As per an amended policy, illegal VoIP (voice over internet protocol) operators will get a chance to make their business legal by routing calls through legal exchanges. Earlier, international calls through VoIP were  completely prohibited under the International Long Distance Telecommunications Service Policy.
The government did not legalise the existing illegal VoIP business. However, it expects that when more exchanges are launched, VoIP calls will be routed through legal channels due to competitive pricing.
Currently, illegal VoIP operators on an average charge 1.75 cent per minute for an international call whereas legal call handlers charge 3 cents.
“The policy recommends issuing more licences for international call handling to encourage existing VoIP businesses that operate outside the law to be under a legal framework,” said BTRC Chairman Zia Ahmed.
Sources in Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said 10 more licences would be given by March.
“We expect after issuance of new licences, government revenue from the telecom sector would increase as call termination through legal channels would boost,” Zia said.
As per the amended policy, all call handlers will be responsible for compelling illegal calls go through their channels and make them legal.
The decision was made yesterday at the regular cabinet meeting, which approved in principle the International Long Distance Telecommunications Service Policy (Amendment) 2009. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting.
Among the existing six call handlers, three international gateways are mainly responsible for handling international voice calls along with the state-run BTCL.
Two other legal interconnection exchanges transmit the calls between the gateways and telecom operators, while the lone private international internet gateway is responsible for handling data traffic.
Around 60 million minutes of international calls are made to and from Bangladesh a day. In Bangladesh, VoIP has become a lucrative business as the technology offers international calls at charges much lower than that of the legal calls. Hundreds of people have been engaged in this business.
“More individuals and companies will be involved in international call termination to stop the illegal VoIP business,” Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad said briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting.
He said the government wants to open up the telecommunications sector for all and introduce a new level of competitive atmosphere.
He said the prime minister wants to expand the telecom sector keeping in mind the “digital Bangladesh” promise.
However, Mir Nasir Hossain, president of Telecommunication Infrastructure Operators of Bangladesh, the organisation of private call handlers, said, “It is an unrealistic idea that operator can stop VoIP.”
He said operators have no means to bring the illegal VoIP callers into their channel.
The cabinet yesterday also adopted a condolence reference on the death of West Bengal’s longest serving chief minister Jyoti Basu.
Azad said the cabinet expressed deep shock and sorrow over the death of veteran politician Jyoti Basu.
Jyoti Basu will be always remembered as a legendary left-wing politician of the sub-continent for his life-long struggle and the outstanding sacrifices he made, the condolence reference said.
“People of Bangladesh will remember him with gratitude for his contribution in getting the equal share of water of the Ganges through the signing of the Ganges water-sharing treaty,” Azad said.
The cabinet also prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
The cabinet yesterday approved handing over of coastal land for forestation and preservation of forests to the land ministry. The proposal was approved to curb occupation of forestland and illegal logging.
Azad said 12.30 lakh acres of land was kept preserved in the costal areas of Chittagong, Barisal, Noakhali and Patuakhali districts. “More 4 lakh acres of land has emerged in the costal areas which will be handed over to the land ministry for cultivation,” he added.

Courtesy of The Daily Star