Bangladesh Broadband Wireless Access License Auction Tomorrow

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission will hold an auction to award three Licenses to private companies for 'Broadband Wireless Access' for providing high-speed wireless internet access to their subscribers.

Nine companies and joint ventures that submitted bids to the BTRC will bid for the Licenses at the auction that will be held at the Hotel Radisson Water Garden on Wednesday.

The three companies that will make highest offers for License acquisition will be given the Licenses in accordance with the 'Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines on Broadband Wireless Access Services Operator Licenses,' said officials of the BTRC.

The bidding will start at Tk 250 million. The License will be issued about a week after the auction.

The License will be valid for 15 years initially. Upon expiry of the initial term, the BTRC may renew the License for subsequent terms, each 5 years in duration.

Each licensee will be authorized to develop and operate a broadband network to provide nationwide broadband internet services as well as voice application.

The annual License fee is Taka 30 million, and the companies will have to share 2 per cent of their gross revenue with the government in the second year of operation and four per cent in subsequent years. The companies will have to roll out their annual activities as specified in the guideline.

They will have to install five full-fledged operational base transceiver station radio sites in areas covering each divisional headquarters and a minimum of three, two and one BTS in certain districts within one year of the issuance of Licenses.

The licensee has to file for initial public offering within three years of the issuance of a License.

The BTRC might issue an additional BWA License to the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company limited on the same terms and conditions, including the License acquisition fee as shall be applicable to the other BWA licensees.

Source: http://www.newagebd.com/2008/sep/23/front.html &

Auction tomorrow for three broadband wireless access licences