Bangladesh, Oct. 15 -- International Gateway (IGW) operators in Bangladesh can now establish and operate their own Inter-Operator Exchange (IOX) switches following a directive issued by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on 30 September. First Communications Limited (FirstCom BD), a licensed IGW operator, says the decision creates new opportunities for investment in telecommunications infrastructure and greater operational independence.

IGW operators have been handling international voice traffic in Bangladesh since 2008. The sector began with three licences that year, with the number rising to 29 by 2012. Under the International Long Distance Telecommunication Services (ILDTS) Policy 2007, international calls...