BTCL’s 5G Readiness Project Under Scrutiny: Faiz Taiyeb Clarifies Intentions, Warns of Market Risks
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant on Telecom and ICT Affairs to the Chief Advisor, has stated that continuing the 5G Readiness Project of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) is vital to national interest, not personal gain. “If the project fails, around Tk 600 crore will be lost,” he warned, addressing a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy on Monday, July 7.
Clarifying the recent controversy over his letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Taiyeb said, “We sought the ACC’s support in the interest of the country. Unfortunately, this initiative is being misrepresented.”
He elaborated that the BTCL fiber network expansion project had been initiated during the previous government's tenure, and the tender process was manipulated at that time. “A Letter of Credit (LC) worth Tk 2.9 billion had already been executed before Nahid Islam and I assumed office. We’ve spoken with the ACC Chairman and explained that, given the investment already made, the project should proceed,” Taiyeb said.
He added, “We have never awarded any tender where the company was not number one in the financial and technical evaluations.”
Warning Against Market Weakness
Taiyeb underscored the urgency, noting, “If BTCL's DWDM market remains weak, there is a risk that it will disappear from the market. Rival private companies would prefer that outcome.”
He accused corrupt actors of pushing back against reform: “Those who have been involved in corruption until now are spending money against us and engaging in defamation.”
Internet Infrastructure Insights
“Recently, there has been a discussion regarding BTCL, and I would like to address it. As you know, the real internet footprint of Bangladesh currently stands at 7.5 terabytes. What we see on Facebook or mobile devices is only a small portion—the rest is cached internet,” he explained.
Taiyeb cited a BUET study that predicted Bangladesh’s internet capacity demand would exceed 100 terabytes within 10 to 12 years, based on data from 2016-2017. “Today, we’re already at 35–36 terabytes when cache is included. With an annual growth rate of 34%–45%, this could reach 175 terabytes by 2036. Any country not experiencing such growth likely has problems in its digital infrastructure.”
He criticized the original project specifications, saying they lacked consideration of cached data and redundancy. “We decided to form a committee to verify if the equipment promised—OSR 9800, M12, and M24—is delivered as per commitment. These models are already used widely in the private sector, which competes with BTCL,” Taiyeb said.
Defending the Letter to ACC
“In response to misinformation and misinterpretation, I wrote a letter to the ACC Chairman, presenting our position. Since the LC funds have already been utilized and BTCL’s district-level capacity is only 1 Gbps, not upgrading now would result in immediate market vulnerability,” Taiyeb stated.
He also pointed out that while the IP network under BTCL’s project is 70–80% complete, it remains non-functional without the DWDM infrastructure. “This means Tk 3 billion in investment is sitting idle. Completing the DWDM network is critical to make use of existing infrastructure.”
No Corruption in Current Administration
Taiyeb firmly rejected accusations of wrongdoing under the current administration: “Neither I nor anyone in my ministry has committed corruption. The entire project was designed and initiated during the previous government. Our engagement has been limited to reviewing documents and seeking cooperation from the ACC.”
He emphasized that there is no case filed regarding this project aside from the ACC’s routine observation. “If this project is not completed and the LC lapses, two outcomes are inevitable—Tk 600 crore in losses and BTCL's potential exit from the DWDM market.”
Systemic Reforms and Project Cancellations
“In the ICT sector, we have cancelled nearly Tk 25 billion worth of questionable projects. We haven’t proposed a single new ICT project in this year’s budget,” Taiyeb said. “At the ECNEC meeting, I informed the Chief Advisor that 20 ICT and 6 telecom projects are under review to bring order and remove irregularities. Only then will we propose new, likely skill-based, initiatives.”
He revealed that many existing projects lack critical features such as cybersecurity, monitoring, or environmental control, despite including data center components.
Taiyeb added, “We are striving for compliance in all areas. Because of these efforts, those who have long benefited from corruption are now affected. I suspect that companies that have obtained licenses through authoritarian political influence, do not pay hundreds of crores to government companies, and are defaulters to banks are spending money to spread propaganda against us.”
He concluded, “We want to move forward with strength, for the country, not for individuals.”
