DHAKA, Jan 15, 2018 (BSS) – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday virtually cleared ways for auctioning of 4G spectrum for mobile phone operators by extending a stay order against a previous High Court directive to halt the process.
“Now there is no legal bar in holding the auction for allotting spectrum to mobile phone operators for 4G services,” Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told newsmen after the apex court passed the order.
A five-member appellate division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah extended the stay, passed on January 11 by its Chamber Judge Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on the High Court order that had restricted the 4G spectrum auctioning.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) earlier floated a bidding process inviting applications for taking part in spectrum auction for 4G mobile phone service
But the High Court bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed halted the auction process and asked for a BTRC explanation why its circular inviting applications should not be declared illegal in line with a writ petition.
Wireless internet provider Banglalion Communications Limited filed the writ, claiming the circular contrary to the broadband guideline, 2008.
The apex court chamber judge later stayed the High Court order until yesterday referring the matter for full bench hearing in the appellate division.
BTRC was scheduled to issue 4G license on February 14 after holding of spectrum auction for three different bands on February 13.