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Tele-taping would hamper the growth and expansion of the telecommunication business, especially the mobile phone operating business in Bangladesh.
Talking to the FE recently, Lars P Reichelt, chief executive officer (CEO) Banglalink which is one of the leading mobile phone operators in Bangladesh, made the observation.
A new registration system for new subscribers using new forms begins today (Sunday), under which finger print and other information will also be included. The government has not brought T&T and private service telephone network (PSTN) under the new policy .
The registration of all other subscribers has to be completed within next two months.
He said, 'We welcome the government move to curb terrorism in the country.'
Reichelt expressed his concern over violating the privacy of subscribers through tele-taping, which would ultimately compel the potential subscribers not to use any mobile phone.
This would certainly create a negative impact on expansion of the mobile phone operating business.
Reichelt, however, cast his doubt over the success in stopping the terrorism through tele-taping as it is quite impossible to tape all the subscribers' communication through mobile technology.
Citing the statistical data in this regard, Reichelt said out of more than 10 million subscribers, at best 0.005 per cent tele-taping is possible.
Talking to the FE, Banglalink Manager of Corporate Sales Tanvir Ibrahim said no company would bear the cost of tele-taping as it is too expensive to bear by any mobile phone operating company.
The total expenses for completing registration would create an additional expenditure of $ 80 million at least for Banglalink ultimately reducing its operating profit to a great extent, Reichelt said.
He also said the lawyer-client and doctor-patient communication is often kept secret and in that case introduction of tele-taping would undoubtedly violate their privacy.
Reichelt said they are keeping close contact with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and trying to persuade the government to give it a second thought.
Reichelt said the management of Banglalink would consider addressing the matter through filing even a case for violating the privacy of mobile phone subscribers through tele-taping.
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