New 5G Spectrum Coming in 2027; Pressure on Telcos to End Call Drops

Following the allocation of 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands to mobile operators, a new spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band will be opened in 2027 to expand 5G services nationwide. Furthermore, government pressure will continue on mobile operators to resolve call drop issues and address the expiration of unused data in internet packages to alleviate consumer grievances. Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, ICT, and Science and Information Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, shared these updates on Sunday, July 12, during a question-and-answer session in the National Parliament. Presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram, the minister highlighted the overall development map of the country's IT and communication sectors.

During the session, the minister stated that four mobile operators—Teletalk, Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink—are currently providing services in the country. He emphasized the strategic importance of keeping the state-owned operator, Teletalk, active in the market. Responding to a supplementary question from Sanjida Yasmin, a Member of Parliament from the reserved women's seat, the minister noted that without a state operator, private companies might arbitrarily hike service prices. Consequently, initiatives funded by government and foreign investments are underway to set up more mobile towers to improve Teletalk's network coverage and service quality. Network expansion will also be carried out in uncovered areas based on specific data in coordination with all operators.

Addressing another consumer-centric question, the minister affirmed that the government is seriously considering the issue of unused data expiration in 7-day or 15-day internet packages. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has held multiple meetings with the operators on this matter. Although operators argued in favor of their existing business policies, the minister firmly stated that pressure would be maintained on them to protect consumer rights and mitigate call drops.

Simultaneously, under the 'Establishment of Digital Connectivity' project, work is underway to install 109,004 broadband internet connections across the country to bridge the digital divide. So far, broadband connectivity has been successfully delivered to 57,000 institutions, including educational institutes, community clinics, and courts. The government also plans to launch a 'Expatriate Help Desk' at digital centers to streamline remittance inflows and assist non-resident Bangladeshis.

To keep the youth away from harmful online activities and make them self-reliant, the government is setting up training centers at the upazila level focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), freelancing, and digital skills. The Information and Communication Technology Division is implementing a five-year program aiming to develop freelancers, under which 200,000 freelancers will receive official ID cards. Additionally, the minister informed the house that the country's dilapidated post offices are being renovated in phases.
//DBTech/SH/MI/ED//