The Internet, ever since its introduction, has affected the lives of many across the globe. While people continue to debate its usefulness as an effective means of communication, it is certain that a particular segment of our society is misusing it for serving their own vested interests. This has kept statutory bodies, including the governments of several countries, at bay. These regulatory bodies have so far been unsuccessful at completely curbing illegal activities booming over the net; the menace has only grown manifolds with the launch IP services.

Bangladesh, an Asian country, is currently battling similar issues. According to its legal structure, only Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) is allowed to generate and end international calls, but with the booming Voice over IP (VoIP) calling facilities, several illegal operators have emerged, providing consumers IP telephony services.

This undercover practice, ongoing for several years, has robbed the exchequer large amounts of national currency. In a fresh set of orders issued by the Bangladeshi government, clandestine VoIP operators have been warned against illegal use of the Internet for making international calls. A reminder was also issued stating that this illegal activity is a punishable offence.

The official statement read as follows: “Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) is the lone legitimate organization approved by the government for call termination and call origination abroad.”

The country is losing out on revenue and security governance at the hand of this malpractice. The onus of rapid increase of this illegal trade has to be borne by its rigid and traditional policy structure.

At a time when economies of almost most developing countries are enjoying windfall gains accruing from the Internet and its varied applications, the Bangladeshi government is yet to legalize the use of VoIP. Foregoing the possible benefits of the outsourcing boom, the country’s government is not taking sufficient measures to raise itself above the “developing country” status.

Akhtar-uzzaman Manju, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), said in a published report that approximately Tk 1,000 crores can be earned through foreign exchange. He also said, “We are not facilitated while the VoIP is recognized across the world.”

Even though the decision to legalize VoIP was taken in June 2002 by the Bangladeshi government, the official nod was given a year later on Nov. 10, 2003, at a cabinet meeting chaired by the then country’s Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia. The decision awaits implementation to date.

According to government officials, they plan to set up a common platform in collaboration with the BTTB in four areas of the country, namely, Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Bogra. This platform, connected to a submarine cable, will be used to channelize international calls made through the net.

Citing rise in terrorism the world over, BTTB strongly suggests the presence of a common platform, as it would facilitate regulators to keep an eye on the telecommunications network.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Authority (BTRC) has another perspective. According to them, as the submarine cable project is nowhere near completion. An interim arrangement can be made till this common platform comes into existence, such as issuing certain terms and conditions to the interested operators, clearly explaining the permanent arrangement of how the VoIP or the Internet traffic will be routed through the BTTB Channels after the platform is operational.

To this the response of the BTTB officials is quite contrary, who believe that the BRTC ideology breaches the telecom policy, 1998 as well as the Bangladesh telecommunications act, 2001, which provides absolute monopoly to BTTB in the international circuit market.

The tug of war between the two government agencies has left the policy makers bewildered. Meanwhile the illegal VoIP operations continue to expand despite all state and legal efforts, depriving the government of revenue generation and economic growth.

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Rahul Prabhakar is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.