The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has issued an invitation for applications to implement and operate the country’s mobile number portability (MNP) system, which is scheduled to be launched at the end of the year. The announcement, published on the regulator’s website, sets an application deadline of 8 August, whilst stipulating that prospective MNP system providers must have three years’ experience implementing and operating MNP solutions for at least ten million mobile subscribers in one or more countries. The invitation document also states that existing Bangladeshi mobile network operators (or their directors/shareholders) are prohibited from investing in the MNP service provider, which must have Bangladeshi ownership, either outright or in partnership with a foreign investor. Alongside the MNP tender announcement, the BTRC published the reference document for applicants on its website (‘Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Invitation of offers/proposals for issuing Licence for Establishing, Operating and Maintaining Mobile Number Portability Services in Bangladesh’).
BTRC chairman Shahjahan Mahmood told a press conference that the auction to decide the winning MNP bidder will be held on 21 September, the Daily Star reported, adding that the portability database system is expected to be up and running in three months, with a BDT30 (USD0.37) per-number port user charge planned.