Posts and Telecommunications Minister Sahara Khatun on Sunday said allowing mobile phone operators to use the 3G spectrum to launch their 3G services on easy conditions will enable the government to hold the shares of huge revenue.
“The government is not doing auction business by conceding the 3G (third generation) spectrum to mobile network operators. Allowing them to use the spectrum on easy conditions will enable the government to hold shares of the huge revenue they’ll be generating from the services,” she said.
The minister was addressing a national dialogue, ‘Commercial Freedom: Key to Sustainable Development of Telecommunication Industry’, organised by Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) at Cirdap. Sahara also cited the example of the recent 2G spectrum allocation scam in India and stressed that the 3G spectrum auction in Bangladesh will be different and it will ensure increased revenue for the government from the sector.
The government considers the telecom industry as a thrust sector and expects to earn more revenues by conceding greater commercial freedom to the mobile operators in the days to come, she said. “But, the beneficiaries of the freedom will have to keep in mind the public interest.” Sahara noted that the Indian government has raised a lot of money by holding an auction recently (2010).
India raised more than US$ 15 billion from an open auction for 3G licences in 2010. The earning from the 3G auction by Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is expected to stand around US$ 800 million, while the government has already relaxed the tax for the 3G service operations.
Presided over by chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, the dialogue was also addressed by ICT Minister Mostafa Faruque Mohammad, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, BTRC chairman Sunil Kanti Bose and BUP executive director Nilufar Banu. – UNB
