Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) recently cancelled the licences of 14 internet service providers (ISPs) after they failed to renew their licences within the specified time. 

The telecom regulator directed the ISPs to surrender their licences to the commission within 10 days, according to the BTRC documents.

The ISPs are Bornil Network System Ltd, IT Next Technology, Cyber Communication, New Generation Internet Services Ltd, Asian City Online (BD) Ltd, Apon Enterprise, Sparking World, Reign ICT, Segun Bagicha Safenet Online, Speed Online, Vestel Cable TV Networks Ltd, Web Solution, Chandpur Net and Airnet Communication.

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

It also warned all concerned not to enter into any deal or engage in financial transactions with these ISPs.

Earlier in May, the BTRC cancelled the licences of 228 ISPs after they failed to convert their licences in accordance with guidelines.

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

In July 2022, the regulator directed the international internet gateway service providers to disconnect bandwidth connections of 286 ISPs after they failed to convert their licences in accordance with guidelines.