Telecommunication Regulation in Bangladesh: An overview

Abstract

The demand for telecommunications services is rapidly escalating. There has been a significant shift from domestic intrasufficiency to international interdependence in both the demand and supply sides of markets generally. As consumers become more sophisticated in evaluating the world market, businesses have to maintain their comparative advantage in services by globalizing research, manufacturing products with multinational counterparts. All of these factors- the high demand for telecommunications services, the interconnectedness of telecommunications sector inputs and uses, and international dependence-created the need to integrate the piecemeal and segmented Telecommunications trade policies, laws and regulations. This article begins by looking at the question ‘what is telecommunications?’ and then by identifying reasons why the industry is so highly regulated. The discussion is then led into the general way in which telecommunications is regulated and finally specifically at how it is regulated in Bangladesh. This article is intended to provide a big-picture overview of how telecommunications is regulated in Bangladesh. Recommendations are also suggested to improve the regulatory framework of telecommunication in Bangladesh