Citycell, the country’s first mobile phone operator, has requested the return of its canceled operating and radio equipment licenses. The company, Pacific Bangladesh Telecom, sent a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on September 1, seeking the reinstatement of its licenses.
Citycell claims that its spectrum was initially suspended due to political retaliation, blaming former State Minister for Telecommunications Tarana Halim. They argue that the license was canceled while the matter was still pending in court. However, BTRC stated that Citycell’s license was revoked due to unpaid dues of Tk 218 crore.
According to Pacific Telecom’s letter, the company suffered a loss of nearly Tk 4,000 crore over the past eight years due to halted operations, outstanding bank loans, employee dues, and infrastructure damages. Additionally, Citycell missed out on potential revenue of approximately Tk 2,000 crore, depriving the government of nearly Tk 430 crore in taxes and fees.
Citycell is now urging the withdrawal of the license cancellation order and requesting a technology-neutral license that includes 5G, with payments to be made after revenue collection. Pacific Telecom’s Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Nishat Ali Khan, stated that the matter is sub judice, and BTRC does not have the authority to cancel the license. He called the government’s past actions an abuse of power and sought redress.
Once the only CDMA technology mobile operator in the country, Citycell’s spectrum was shut down by BTRC on June 11, 2017. The company is now fighting for a chance to re-enter the market, seeking a path forward amidst legal battles and claims of political misuse of authority.