Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has detected four PSTN operators bypassing international traffic. Therefore, it has shutdown the networks of Ranks Telecom (300,782 customers), Dhaka Telephone (77,765), Peoples Telecom (161,630) and World Tel (14,261) for alleged bypass.

Bypassing is illegal and a punishable offense, ideed. But the telecoms law doesn’t permit such extra-judicial execution that has muted more than 554,000 or 33% innocent PSTN users’ dial-tone. Bypass is a disease the government has been nurturing through its infamous international long distance or ILDTS policy. Broadly speaking – it regulates the tariff and prohibits competition. The government would better know the rules before it governs.

• Update 1 – March 23, 2010: The regulator has decided to allow the resumption of PSTN services.
• Update 2 – March 24, 2010: RanskTel and Dhaka Phone have resumed operations while BTRC has shutdown National Telecom for international bypass. That makes the fifth PSTN outfit being bashed by the regulator.