A total of 18 companies submitted their proposals to the telecoms regulator to vie for getting a license to operate International Internet Gateway (IIG) services. The BTRC will award one licence.

IIG is a system that works to exchange international internet-based data traffic as well as a National Internet Exchange (NIIG) for exchanging national internet-based data traffic.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) invited proposals in October 16 this year from Bangladeshi entities willing to receive the IIG licence. Yesterday was the last day for submitting the proposals.

Although some 40 companies showed their interest and collected application forms from the BTRC, 18 companies have submitted their proposals, said a high official of BTRC.

“The BTRC will complete the IIG licence awarding procedures within a short time that will help to stop all illegal international call terminations,” said another BTRC official, adding that the telecoms watchdog will call its pre-evaluation meeting by this month to scrutinise the submitted proposals.

Through this IIG services all internet service providers of the country will be connected with the global internet services.

According to BTRC IIG guideline, the licensee will set up, maintain and operate IIG services in Bangladesh.

The licensee will have to establish two ‘point of presence’ (POP) in addition with existing IIG services of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone (BTTB). One POP will have to be set up in Dhaka and another in Chittagong to commence the IIG services.

Meanwhile, recently a total of 81 companies submitted their proposals for five licences to operate Interconnection Exchange (ICX) and International Gateway (IGW) services in the country. The BTRC will provide two ICX and one IGW licences to three Bangladeshi firms.