BTRC blocks Robi’s infrastructure ownership transfer

A proposal by Bangladeshi cellco Robi Axiata to transfer ownership of its passive network infrastructure assets has been blocked by the local telecoms regulator, the Daily Star writes. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) refused a request to transfer 80% ownership of the assets including wireless towers, buildings and ancillary facilities, to Edotco Group, a 100%-owned unit of Robi’s Malaysian parent Axiata Group. The watchdog reasoned that Robi would lose control over the infrastructure – currently wholly owned by Robi’s subsidiary Edotco Bangladesh – if the Malaysian company took ownership.