GP seeks integrated spectrum, revenue and tax policy

Grameenphone has called for Bangladesh’s spectrum, revenue and taxation frameworks to be assessed through a “single lens” rather than as separate policy issues. The country’s largest mobile operator said ongoing dialogue and positive exchanges among the telecom sector, the Ministry of Finance, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and regulatory agencies are helping build mutual trust amid the current economic realities.

Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Yasir Azman stressed the need to bring spectrum pricing, corporate taxation, revenue sharing and indirect taxes at the consumer level under an integrated framework as Bangladesh seeks a sustainable long-term transformation of its telecommunications sector.

He said Bangladesh should seek solutions based on its own economic realities instead of simply following examples from other countries. Raising the question of whether spectrum is “a tool for the government’s one-time revenue collection or the key driver of the digital economy,” he said finding a clear and integrated answer has become an urgent necessity.

Yasir Azman said telecommunications is no longer limited to a traditional “vertical” business based on voice or data sales. It has evolved into a “horizontal enabler” for sectors including mobile financial services (MFS), over-the-top (OTT) platforms, e-commerce, education and future high-tech manufacturing.

He said high-speed, low-latency connectivity also has a significant impact on social and economic inclusion. Beyond attracting global investment, mobile connectivity is enabling people in remote and marginalised communities, including women entrepreneurs, to become more economically self-reliant.

Grameenphone also stressed that the 40 percent corporate tax, revenue sharing and indirect taxes at the consumer level should not be considered separately from spectrum pricing but brought under an integrated framework.

As telecommunications technology drives virtually every sector of the economy, reforms to spectrum policy could accelerate growth across the wider economy, the company said.

Calling for transparent spectrum auctions, faster network rollout and sustainable telecom policies, Grameenphone Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Tanvir Mohammad said the recently acquired 700 MHz band has already been activated on a large scale to expand network coverage in rural areas and reduce congestion or signal problems in densely populated urban areas.

Praising positive measures taken by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the government in recent policy reforms, including the SIM acquisition tax, Tanvir Mohammad said the measures would improve consumer affordability while also strengthening operators’ capacity to invest in network infrastructure.

The telecom sector’s Systemically Important Market Power (SMP) operator outlined its position at a roundtable organised by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB).

The discussion was chaired by TRNB President Masuduzzaman Robin and moderated by General Secretary Faruk Hossain. Prime Minister’s ICT and Telecom Adviser Rehan Asif Asad attended as the chief guest, while BTRC Chairman Md. Emdad Ul Bari was present as the special guest.

//DBTech/IH/MSI//