Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has issued a set of conditions for co-branding of handset and USB modem by the mobile phone operators.
Under the conditions, mobile phone operators would not be allowed to import handsets, instead they will have to import handsets through BTRC-enlisted vendors subject to prior approval from the commission, said a BTRC directive issued recently.
There will be no provision of SIM lock for these handsets and USB modems. Mobile phone operators have also been barred from showing name or logo or package name of the operator before turning on or off.
Operators will have to get prior permission from the telecom regulator for each handset model if they want to market handsets with installed applications and the customers must have access or permission to remove or uninstall the applications if they want to.
The operators must not market handsets with applications that require charges for update.
Insertion of any logo or sticker with name of mobile phone operator in the front of the handsets will not be allowed.
Along with brand name, model name and number of the handsets, logo or name of the operator, however, can be inserted in the back of handsets and such information must remain limited to one-fourth of the set’s total area in the back. The name or logo of mobile phone operator, however, must not be more visible than the brand name, model name and number of handsets. Operators, however, would be allowed to use their logo in case of co-branded USB modem.
The BTRC directive also said that 3G handsets must be capable of supporting 1920-1980 Megahertz band or 2110-2170 MHz band and 880-915 MHz or 925-960 MHz band. On the other hand, 4G handsets must be capable of supporting 1920-1980 Megahertz band or 2110-2170 MHz band, 1710-1785 MHz band or 1805-1880 MHz band and 880-915 MHz band or 925-960 MHz band. Besides, the handsets must be capable of supporting other existing GSM interfaces, BTRC said.
Source: http://www.newagebd.net/article/46348/btrc-sets-conditions-for-co-branding-of-handsets-by-telcos
