BTRC steps up recovery of Tk 48.60cr in telecom dues
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has intensified efforts to recover nearly Tk 48.60 crore in unpaid dues from operators across the telecommunications sector, with defaulters facing penalties, bandwidth restrictions and licence cancellation proceedings.
The recovery drive, based on decisions taken at a recent commission meeting, covers unpaid bandwidth charges from international internet gateway (IIG) operators, regulatory arrears of the mobile number portability (MNP) service provider and outstanding licence and annual fees from internet protocol telephony service providers (IPTSPs).
According to commission documents, IPTSP operators owe Tk 34.62 crore, IIG operators Tk 8.96 crore and the country’s sole MNP service provider, Infozillion Teletech BD Ltd, Tk 5.01 crore.
In the IIG sector, an audit identified Tk 9,47,97,344 in claims against 26 operators for unbilled bandwidth usage. BTRC has recovered Tk 51.14 lakh, leaving Tk 8.96 crore outstanding.
The commission has permitted some operators to pay their dues in instalments. Cybergate Ltd, which owed Tk 38.19 lakh, paid Tk 5 lakh and was allowed to settle the remaining Tk 33.19 lakh in 12 equal monthly instalments, subject to a 15 per cent annual late fee.
Earth Telecommunication Ltd paid Tk 25 lakh against its Tk 96.26 lakh liability and was allowed to pay the remaining Tk 71.26 lakh in 12 equal instalments. Peerex Networks Ltd, which has Tk 21.13 lakh outstanding, received a one-month extension.
For other defaulting IIG operators, BTRC decided to pursue recovery through its Legal and Licensing Division. The companies include Mango Teleservices Ltd, Aamra Technologies Ltd, Maxnet Online, Maxhub Ltd, Intraglobe Communication Ltd, 1 Asia Alliance Communication Ltd, BD Link Communication Ltd, Equitel Communication Ltd, Radiant Communication Ltd, Rego Communication Ltd and Planet Internet Gateway Ltd.
The commission also directed recovery action over Tk 2.64 crore in unpaid unbilled bandwidth charges owed to Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL). However, this amount has not been included in the overall figure pending confirmation that it is separate from the audited IIG claims.
In the IPTSP sector, outstanding licence and annual fees total Tk 34,62,07,636. BTRC has cancelled 18 licences and initiated legal certificate recovery cases against Digital Connectivity Ltd for Tk 8.79 crore and IDEA Networks and Communications Ltd for Tk 21.21 crore. The two cases are included in the reported sectoral dues.
The commission has also ordered an immediate 50 per cent bandwidth restriction on defaulting operational IPTSPs, including ICC Communication, Idea Tech Ltd, Aamra Networks Ltd and Sarker Communication.
Infozillion Teletech BD Ltd owes Tk 5,01,67,818 in accumulated MNP-related arrears. The amount comprises Tk 2,31,88,309 in unadjusted revenue share, Tk 2,25,34,989 in late fees on revenue share, Tk 33,16,899 in VAT, Tk 10,90,186 in Service Obligation Fund dues and Tk 10,37,435 in related late fees.
The company had earlier been allowed to pay its dues in 12 monthly instalments following the commission’s 300th meeting but failed to make payments from March to June 2026.
BTRC imposed a fine of Tk 1 lakh, payable within 30 days, and referred recovery of the principal dues to its Legal and Licensing Division.
The regulator has also stepped up action against internet service providers (ISPs) for failing to submit mandatory information through its automated Data Information System (DIS).
Show-cause notices were issued to 116 non-operational or non-compliant ISP licensees over their failure to submit information on bandwidth usage, subscribers and network performance for January to March 2025.
BTRC imposed penalties at different rates based on the operators’ responses and subsequent compliance. Fines ranged from Tk 2,500 to Tk 50,000 for registered operators and from Tk 6,750 to Tk 1.50 lakh for operators outside the registered group.
All defaulting operators were directed to register and upload the required information within 30 days. Failure to comply would lead to proceedings for immediate licence cancellation.
The commission also fined Earth Telecommunication Ltd for operating an unauthorised TCLS point of presence at Benapole and sharing infrastructure without BTRC approval.
The company was instructed to pay the penalty within 10 working days under Section 65(5) of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001.
In another decision, Fiber@Home Ltd, an NTTN operator, was fined Tk 5 lakh for entering into platform and service agreements with third parties, including Romance and Sun, under its Cyclone Project without prior BTRC approval. The fine must also be paid within 10 working days.
The decisions reflect the regulator’s efforts to recover outstanding public and regulatory revenues and enforce financial and licensing obligations across the telecommunications sector.