Dhaka, Nov 11: Bangladesh legalized internet telephone services that provide cheap international calls through computer modems, officials said today. A cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia approved yesterday a bangladesh telecommunications regulatory commission proposal to legalize internet phone services, a government news release said. Citizens in Bangladesh currently pay one of the highest charges in South Asia to make international calls through the state-owned phone company or private mobile phone operators. With internet operators getting the green light, the savings could be as much as ten-fold. A peak hour call to the United States, for example, costs 40 taka (70 cents) per minute. Over the internet, the same call costs as little as 4 taka (7 cents). Illegal operators, some based overseas, have offered Bangladeshis internet phone services, costing the state millions in lost revenue, the government says. Internet service providers welcomed the latest government move. ``It is a milestone that will help to foster growth in the information communication technology sector,'' said Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of the internet service providers association. Internet telephony will not only reduce call charges drastically, but it will boost call centers and video-conferencing throughout the country, Manju said.
Bureau Report