Experts Urge SMP Guidelines to Ensure Telecom Fairness

Industry: Telecom, Telecom & Mobile

Industry experts emphasized the urgent need for effective implementation of Significant Market Power (SMP) guidelines to ensure fair competition and stability in Bangladesh’s telecommunication sector. At a roundtable organized by Telecom Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB), speakers highlighted the dominance of a single operator, diminishing competitiveness among Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and falling average revenue per user (ARPU). The telecom sector’s revenue has significantly declined due to weak enforcement of SMP regulations, rising tax burdens, and economic challenges. BTRC Chairman Emdad Ul Bari acknowledged the regulator’s limitations and called for industry collaboration. Other speakers, including former Competition Commission Director Md. Khaled Abu Naser and AMTOB Secretary General Md. Zulfikar, stressed the need for consistent regulatory frameworks, infrastructure sharing, and strengthening the Commission to attract foreign investments. They noted that only three of the 20 SMP guideline clauses have been implemented, with minimal impact on market inequalities.

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