Controlling Illegal VoIP In Bangladesh

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Bangladeshi government is facing a problem with the rising of VoIP usage in the country, they call it "Illegal VoIP". Unlike other countries, Bangladesh government controls the Telecommunications and VoIP market by authorizing companies and organizations to provide International Gateway Services. VoIP service providers have specific guidelines and charges companies for providing VoIP services. In addition to all the fees for setting up a VSP, the government charges 46.75% of the call rate.
But the regulation is not easy and it has become even harder as the mobile internet usage in the country has risen;
"The Commission took several actions against it (illegal VOIP) in October and November, 2018. But we are yet to make any breakthrough.”, BTRC Chairman Jahurul Haque told the independent Bangladesh.
Controlling Illegal VoIP In Bangladesh.

The government is incurring losses of revenue worth thousands of crore taka (Bangladeshi Taka exchange rate is 83.9 per USD now and a Crore is equivalent to $119189.50 ) every year owing to the rampant rise in illegal VoIP calls, which also puts a dent on the business of the organisations authorised to provide International Gateway services. Bangladesh Telecommuni-cations Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has conducted many drives to stop this illegal business, but to no avail. When approached over the matter, BTRC Chairman Jahurul Haque said, "The Commission took several actions against it (illegal VOIP) in October and November, 2018. But we are yet to make any breakthrough.”

Immediate past Director General (Eng and Operations) of BTRC Brig General Mustafa Kamal said, "If only one lakh (one hundred thousand) VoIP SIM Cards are used daily, the country incurs a revenue loss worth Tk 2,500 crore ($297973778.30) every year." Experts opined that illegal VoIP business has even reached the rural areas thanks to the ubiquity of the mobile internet.

According to the regulator, these illegal VOIP operations became more evident at times when the BTRC slowed down the 3G and 4G Internet during the last few years.  
"The High Speed Mobile Broadband (3G/4G) speed was slowed down for three consecutive days starting from the day before the recently held national parliamentary election. During that period, the number of international incoming calls rose by 100 percent on average." said Md. Rezaul Qader, Commissioner of BTRC.
. It implies that the country’s illegal VoIP is on the rise owing to the 3G and 4G mobile broadband.