Two leading mobile phone operator Grameenphone (GP) and Banglalink (BL) have paid Value Added Tax (VAT) of Tk 1.52 billion to NBR as spectrum acquisition fee for 4G.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) deposited the amount to the Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), a NBR official told state-owned BSS on Monday.
But, Robi did not clear the VAT worth Tk 170 million.
"Last week, Grameenphone and Banglalink paid Tk 1.52 billion to BTRC. This amount was handed over by a cheque to the LTU today," said LTU commissioner Md Matiur Rahman.
He said the mobile phone operators had to pay VAT before introducing 4G service, but they did not do so. The LTU filed cases against them, he said.
Grameen and Banglalink paid a total of Tk 1.52 billion, the first instalment of VAT on their spectrum acquisition fee for 4G Monday, he added.
The LTU commissioner said if Robi fails to pay Tk 170 million VAT by next week, its bank account will be frozen.
BTRC handed over 4G/LTE license on February 19 to mobile phone operators which started offering the fasted internet services on the same day.
On February 13, the government collected Tk 52.68 billion by selling 15.6 Megahertz (MHz) of spectrum to Grameenphone and Banglalink through auction as well as conversion fee for technology neutrality.
Banglalink acquired a total of 10.6 MHz spectrum -- 5 MHz in 2100 band and 5.6 MHz in 1800 band with Tk 25.58 billion while Grameenphone took 5 MHz only in 1800 band at a price of Tk 12.84 billion.
Besides, Tk 8.50 billion came as spectrum conversion fee for technology neutrality.