The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revoked the licenses of seven public switched telephone network (PSTN) operators due to their failure to apply for license renewals. The affected operators include Tele Barta, Ranks Telecom, National Telecom, Bangla Phone, Westech Ltd, One Tel Communication, and Integrated Services Ltd, as announced in a BTRC notice on January 20.
These companies had been operating without valid licenses, with the licenses of Tele Barta, Ranks Telecom, and National Telecom expiring in 2022. The licenses of regional operators Bangla Phone, Westech, and One Tel expired in 2024, while Integrated Services Ltd’s license, which was issued in 2004 for rural PSTN services, expired in 2019.
The BTRC has instructed these companies to settle any outstanding dues within 30 days, warning that any operations conducted without a valid license will be deemed illegal. With this action, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) is now the sole holder of the national PSTN license, while WorldTel Bangladesh, Jalalabad Telecom, SA Telecom, and Nextel Telecom remain as regional PSTN license holders.
The private PSTN sector in Bangladesh faced significant challenges, especially in the early 2010s, as mobile phone usage surged, and many operators struggled to remain competitive. This led to the decline of several operators, including Ranks Telecom, which had previously faced a license cancellation due to illegal trade in voice over internet protocol (VoIP). Despite regaining licenses after litigation, these operators have struggled to grow.
