Breaching Rules: BTRC suspends Dhaka Fiber Net's operations

The telecom regulator has decided to suspend operation of nationwide internet service provider (ISP) Dhaka Fiber Net Ltd (DFNL) for not keeping logs of IPs of customers, some of whom are allegedly involved in militancy or terrorist activities.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) already blocked the ISP's operation.

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In a press release yesterday, the BTRC said based on information from police cyber crime unit, it directed all internet gateway providers on June 5 to block their bandwidth supply to DFNL.

The telecom watchdog also asked the DFNL to explain in seven days as to why its licence should not be cancelled for breaching conditions and ignoring the commission's directives.

The release, signed by senior assistant director of BTRC Zakir Hossain, said the DFNL provided internet connections to 150 customers. Law enforcers found that some of them were involved in militancy or terrorist activities in the country.

As the DFNL did not maintain IP logs of customers, it was not possible to identify these customers. So, the law enforcers were facing difficulties in arresting them, the BTRC release added.

The BTRC again directed all ISPs not to share bandwidth with unauthorised ISPs and the ISPs which did not maintain IP logs of customers.

Another official of the BTRC said they were working closely with the law enforcement agencies to find the ISPs which did not keep IP logs of customers and supplied bandwidth to unauthorised ISPs. They would be fined for ignoring its directives.

Earlier, the BTRC also asked all ISPs to share their IP log information with it for security purposes.