Treat spectrum as strategic national asset

Spectrum should be treated as a strategic national asset rather than a short-term revenue source, said Rehan Asad, the prime minister’s adviser on telecom and ICT, urging mobile operators and policymakers to focus on expanding connectivity and digital inclusion.

He was speaking at the “Spectrum for a Connected Bangladesh: Enabling Internet for All” event organised by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB) at Holiday Inn in Dhaka yesterday.

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Speakers at the event called for a shift in Bangladesh’s approach to spectrum, arguing that pricing and allocation should prioritise affordable connectivity, network investment and digital inclusion rather than government revenue.

Bangladesh currently has 406 MHz of spectrum assigned to four mobile operators, while 79.4 MHz is due for renewal in November 2026, Rehan said.

He stressed that the telecom sector would remain vital over the next two to three decades as artificial intelligence transforms the economy, pointing to major opportunities in data centres, cloud computing and AI.

Bangladesh’s peak internet traffic, currently around 12.1 Tbps, could rise to about 30 Tbps by 2030, he said, adding that the government was working towards building capacity of at least 50 Tbps.

Bangladesh could potentially emerge as a regional data and AI hub if it develops reliable submarine cable connectivity, power supply and other infrastructure, he said.

“If we create the right ecosystem, lower the barriers to entry, enable seamless technology convergence, and treat connectivity as a strategic national asset rather than a short-term revenue source, there is no stopping Bangladesh,” Rehan said.

Bangladesh should remain open to technology convergence, he said, including satellite-mobile connectivity, where new technologies can benefit consumers.

Rehan highlighted the need to bring millions of people still using 2G feature phones into the digital economy. Local manufacturers have shown that affordable smartphones can be produced for Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000, compared with around Tk 10,000 for the cheapest smartphones currently available, he said.

He urged operators to consider co-branding and bundling such devices with voice and data services to make smartphones and connectivity more affordable.

Robi Axiata CEO and Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) President Ziad Shatara echoed Rehan, saying the value of spectrum should not be measured solely by the revenue it generates for the government.

“Excessive spectrum pricing can force operators to spend significant capital on spectrum fees instead of network investment,” he said, warning that this could ultimately affect service quality and consumers’ access to digital services.

“Affordable spectrum is not only about benefiting operators. Its primary purpose is to ensure better connectivity, create greater investment opportunities and build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth of Bangladesh’s digital economy,” Ziad added.

Banglalink CEO Johan Buse also called for affordable allocation.

“Affordable spectrum allocation will improve service quality, contribute to the country’s development and increase investment in the sector,” he said.

BTRC Chairman Major General Md Emdad Ul Bari (retd) said the regulator was aiming to strike a balance between customer service, operators’ business viability and economic growth.

“We need to find a ‘sweet point’ in spectrum pricing,” he said, stressing that telecom policy and spectrum prices should be based on scientific research rather than assumptions.

Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman said spectrum renewal must be considered in the context of the industry’s changing business environment.

“Our industry structure and realities have fundamentally changed,” he said, noting that voice-call minutes had declined by 25 percent while average revenue per user remained unchanged.

He said operators’ contributions to the national exchequer had increased over the past five years, while returns on investment had declined.