IGW, ICX and IIG

IGW, ICX and IIG

To liberalize and legalize VoIP, the government formulated "International Long Distance Telecommunication Services (ILDTS) Policy 2007" and delegated this to the Commission for implementation. As suggested in the  ILDTS Policy, BTRC has successfully issued three  International Gateway (IGW) Licenses, two  Interconnection Exchange (ICX) Licenses and one International Internet Gateway (IIG) License through open auctions. The Licensees have already established their respective IGWs, ICXs and IIG and became operational within stipulated time. The auction winners for ICX, IGW and IIG are as follows:

A. The Auction for International Gateway (IGW) Services License was held on the 18th and 19th February 2008. The following bidders successfully won with 51.75% of revenue sharing:

1. Novotel Limited

2. Bangla Trac Communications Ltd.

3. Mir Telecom

B. The Auction for Interconnection Exchange (ICX) Services License was held on the 20th and 21st February 2008. The following bidders successfully won with 65.75% of revenue sharing:

1. M & H Telecom

2. Getco Telecommunications Ltd.

C. The Auction for International Internet Gateway (IIG) Services License was held on the 25th February 2008. The following bidder successfully won with 10% of revenue sharing:

1. Mango Teleservices

It may be mentioned here that:

(a) The new private sector IGWs are responsible for handling all international voice calls including VoIP calls.

(b) To interconnect the IGWs and last mile operators on all international and domestic voice calls, two new Licenses were granted to private sector ICXs.

(c) IIGs are responsible for facilitating internet services at home and abroad.

It is widely perceived that the International Long Distance Telecommunication Service (ILDTS) Policy 2007 is not sufficiently up-to-date to address the issues of upcoming telecommunications technologies and services. It has also earned name for being conservative in nature. The prevailing situation of the telecom sector deserves special attention. BTRC already put forward its opinion for the consideration of the government and to bring certain changes in the ILDTS policy.

To address the rapidly changing scenario of the telecommunication technology, and fast transforming market features and to cope up with the increasing demands, it is expected that the government will adopt a new International Long Distance Telecommunication Service