Dhaka, Nov. 4 -- The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) warned on Monday that the proposed new telecommunications guidelines could lead to an 18.40 per cent surge in the internet prices and a catastrophic effect on the nation's internet service providers.

The warnings and concerns were made at a press conference at the Raowa Club in Dhaka, where the association also strongly opposed the draft guidelines for fixed telecom service providers (FTSPs) prepared by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Under the proposed framework, FTSPs would be required to pay a 5.5 per cent of the revenue to the government in addition to a contribution of a 1.0 per cent to a social obligation fund.

The ISP...