The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) recently cancelled the licences of 228 internet service providers (ISPs) for failing to convert their licences in accordance with guidelines.

According to the regulatory and licencing guidelines for ISPs in Bangladesh published in December 2020, existing ISP licensees had to convert their licences to four new categories by December 2021.

As per BTRC documents, those 228 licensees broke the telecom act by not converting their licences.

Of the ISPs, four were nationwide licence holders, 38 were zonal and the rest were of A, B and C categories.

The BTRC directed the cancelled licensees to surrender their licences to the commission in 10 days.

The regulator declared all activities of these ISPs fully illegal and punishable under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act 2001.

The telecom regulator also warned everyone concerned not to enter any deal or carryout any financial transactions with these ISPs.