The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has finalized key steps to audit Teletalk, the state-owned mobile network operator, setting goals, outlining the scope, and detailing tasks for the audit process. The telecom regulator approved the revised terms of reference (TOR), scope of service, expression of interest (EOI), and request for proposal (RFP) for appointing an auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit of the operator’s procedures and systems.
This approval came during a recent BTRC commission meeting, following recommendations from the information system audit coordination committee, which reviewed and refined the documents. This will be the first time Teletalk faces scrutiny over its operational challenges and financial liabilities.
The BTRC reports that Teletalk owes about Tk 1,849 crore in unpaid licensing fees, revenue sharing, spectrum fees, and contributions to the Social Obligation Fund. To move forward, a six-member committee was formed in April 2024 to draft the TOR, EOI, and RFP in accordance with the Public Procurement Rules 2008 and other government regulations. These documents were finalized after multiple meetings and revisions.
The audit initiative aims to evaluate and improve the operational transparency and efficiency of Teletalk, ensuring better compliance with regulatory standards, as per a BTRC official. In addition to auditing Teletalk, the telecom regulator has also decided to conduct information system audits on Grameenphone and Robi Axiata, which have been undergoing audits since 2015.
The BTRC previously ran separate audits on Grameenphone and Robi Axiata, covering their operations until December 2014, and claimed Tk 12,579 crore from Grameenphone and Tk 867 crore from Robi for unpaid annual spectrum fees, VAT, and revenue sharing. Both operators disputed the sums, resulting in a legal battle that began in 2019.
In 2019, based on Grameenphone’s audit from 1997 to 2014, the BTRC issued a demand notice requiring the company to pay. Grameenphone filed a lawsuit against the claim, and in November 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the operator to pay Tk 2,000 crore within three months. The company complied, depositing Tk 1,000 crore by February 2020 and another Tk 1,000 crore by May 2020. However, Grameenphone has not yet paid more than Tk 6,100 crore in late fees.
As of April this year, Grameenphone had paid Tk 2,392 crore out of Tk 4,085 crore owed to the National Board of Revenue. Robi, the second-largest operator in Bangladesh, paid Tk 138 crore in five installments by May 2020 following a High Court order, out of the Tk 867 crore it owes.
In addition, the BTRC conducted audits on Banglalink from 1996 to 2019 and requested the operator to pay more than Tk 820 crore last year. Banglalink has paid Tk 390 crore of the principal amount in installments and is working to resolve the audit outcome with the BTRC. Grameenphone and Robi are also in negotiations with the BTRC over the late fees, seeking out-of-court settlements.
