Robi pays BTRC Tk 3.19 billion in fees for merger, adjustment of spectrum with Airtel

Mobile-phone operator Robi has paid a large portion of the BTRC fees for its merger with Airtel and adjustment of their spectrum.

The telecoms regulators said in a statement on Sunday that Robi paid nearly Tk 3.19 billion of a little over Tk 4.27 billion fees.

Robi CEO Mahtab Uddin Ahmed handed BTRC Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood the cheque at the regulators' headquarters.

BTRC Vice Chairman Ahsan Habib Khan, Robi Chief Corporate and People Officer Matiul Islam Nawshad, Company Secretary and Executive Vice President (Regulatory Affairs) Mohammed Shahedul Alam and Airtel's former CEO PD Sharma were also present.   

The Tk 4.27 billion fees included Tk 1 billion merger fee and Tk 3.07 billion for adjustment of spectrum, the BTRC said in the statement. The rest of the amount comes in taxes and VAT.

The BTRC had asked the operator to pay the amount in three instalments. Robi informed them that it would pay the remaining dues, nearly Tk 1.09 billion, in two more instalments, the regulators said in the statement. 

After the merger came into effect on Nov 16, the combined entity is operating under the brand name of Robi Axiata Limited. It is serving approximately 32.2 million subscribers, according to the operator.

‘Airtel’ has remained as an independent product brand of Robi Axiata.

Robi is now the second largest telecoms operator in Bangladesh after Grameenphone which has a subscription base of more than 56 million.