Bangladesh News

Citycell, the country’s oldest mobile phone operator, has been fined Tk 150 crore by the telecom regulator for its involvement in illegal VoIP or international call termination.

The company has already paid Tk 75 crore to the telecom watchdog–Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) — and the rest of the amount will be paid within a short time in two instalments, BTRC sources said.

Citycell is the fourth mobile operator to be fined for their involvement in the VoIP scandal. Grameenphone, the country’s largest operator was fined Tk 168.4 crore, Aktel Tk 145 crore and Banglalink Tk 125 crore. In total Tk 588.4 crore will be deposited with the government exchequer as compensation.

VoIP made it possible to terminate international calls illegally as only Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB), the state owned body, had the right to do this.