The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has reportedly awarded two unified licenses to three mobile phone operators— Grameenphone, Robi, and Teletalk— to facilitate the deployment of 5G and other services in the country.
According to BTRC Chairman, Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, operators who are given the Cellular Mobile Services Operator License and Radio Communications Apparatus License for Cellular Mobile Services (which is valid for 15 years) will not need additional licenses for wireless services such as 2G, 3G, or 4G. Additionally, provisions and scope for 5G and future services are also included.
The awarding of the licenses is expected to boost the telecommunications industry in the country, provide advantages to clients and expedite the progress towards building a Smart Bangladesh.
BTRC believes that mobile connections and internet subscriptions have significantly expanded in the country, which is why it’s necessary to update regulatory frameworks to adapt to advancing technologies.
Bangladesh currently has around 190 million mobile phone connections and 130 million internet subscribers.
Telecom operators were allocated the appropriate spectrum for the introduction of 5G technology, ensuring a seamless transition to next-generation services. The unified licensing framework also addresses important factors such as the availability of spectrum, the infrastructure for backhaul, the security of networks, and the obligations for the implementation of 5G networks.
“The issuance of unified licenses will bring positive results in the telecommunication sector. Operators will be able to provide high-speed wireless internet to customers in future,” State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said.
The BTRC has reportedly been working to ensure that adequate spectrum and accessible frequency will be available by 2035.
