Major Overhaul in New Telecom Policy

Bangladesh is preparing for a major restructuring of its telecommunications regulatory framework covering licensing, spectrum, infrastructure sharing, international connectivity, satellite services, cloud infrastructure, data governance, consumer protection and digital inclusion.

The Draft Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2026, version 0.6, proposes a shift from legacy licence-centric regulation towards a technology-neutral, service-oriented, risk-based and evidence-driven framework. The draft is not yet a final gazetted policy; according to the document, it will take effect from the date specified in the Gazette notification.

From licence categories to risk-based authorization
One of the most significant changes is the proposed restructuring of the authorization system. The draft establishes a limited set of base authorization types: Licence, Enlistment, Notification and no sector-specific authorization. These will be complemented by Function-Specific Authorizations for sensitive activities.

This means low-risk software, applications, call centres, BPOs, hosting and enterprise services would not automatically require a full telecom network licence. Regulation would instead depend on the actual function and risk involved.

New architecture for telecom licences
The 2026 draft further refines the structure introduced under the 2025 telecom policy. The existing National Infrastructure and Connectivity Service Provider, or NICSP, category is proposed to be replaced by the Tower and Connectivity Service Provider, or TCSP framework.

TCSPs may operate under endorsements covering transmission and fibre, tower and neutral-host infrastructure, and exchange and interconnection functions.

The draft also makes clear that Access Network Service Provider, or ANSP, is only a functional description, not a separate licence, legal entity or consortium. Mobile services would operate under Cellular Mobile Service Provider licences, while internet services would be divided into nationwide and district ISP licences.

New TESP framework
A major addition is the Telecom-Enabled Service Provider, or TESP, framework. Software, applications, call centres, BPOs, hosting services, SMS aggregators, communications platforms, managed IoT and vehicle connectivity could be classified according to their actual regulatory risk.

Some low-risk services could operate without sector-specific authorization, while higher-risk activities would require enlistment or Function-Specific Authorization.

MVNOs and network sharing
The draft formally accommodates Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNOs. An MVNO would provide mobile services using a host CMSP's network and spectrum rather than owning the underlying radio network.

The proposed framework would define responsibilities relating to customer identification, billing, quality of service, data governance, cybersecurity, revenue, complaints, portability and continuity. Spectrum and radio-network control would remain with the host CMSP.

The draft also opens regulatory pathways for private and enterprise networks, network slicing, spectrum sharing, active RAN sharing and core-network sharing, subject to appropriate authorization.

Spectrum management gets a new direction
Spectrum is explicitly defined as a scarce national resource. Spectrum assignment would be treated separately from service licensing and would specify the band, geography, duration, usage rights, fees, rollout obligations, interference conditions, sharing, leasing or trading, refarming, renewal and surrender provisions.

The draft requires BTRC to publish a spectrum roadmap and non-confidential utilization information and conduct periodic spectrum audits. Refarming, secondary use, sharing and spectrum recovery would have to follow due process and proportionality.

This directly connects with the ongoing industry debate over spectrum reserve prices, unsold spectrum, operator investment capacity and the efficient use of a scarce national resource.

A broader economic basis for spectrum pricing
The draft proposes that fees, spectrum prices, revenue shares and other government charges should take into account regulatory cost, scarcity, market structure, investment, affordability, competitive neutrality, fiscal impact and administrative simplicity rather than focusing solely on short-term government revenue.

However, the draft does not establish a final spectrum floor-price formula or a specific new price for any band. Instead, it provides for a separate government-approved spectrum framework.

Infrastructure sharing and a single window
The proposed framework gives greater emphasis to fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory infrastructure access. TCSPs would have to provide reference offers covering products, pricing methodology, service levels, capacity, restoration, security and dispute escalation.

A Digital Infrastructure Single Window is also proposed to coordinate road cutting, utility crossings, tower siting, public land, environmental approvals and restoration.

New roads, railways, bridges, power corridors and economic zones would, where feasible and cost-effective, include space, ducts and power for shared digital infrastructure.

Satellite and direct-to-device services
The new framework substantially expands the non-terrestrial connectivity regime. The proposed NTNSP licence would cover geostationary and non-geostationary satellite systems, satellite broadband, backhaul, VSAT, earth stations, maritime and aviation connectivity, mobility terminals and direct-to-device services.

This could provide a clearer regulatory pathway for satellite-based connectivity as operators and technology companies explore new alternatives to conventional terrestrial networks.

Cloud, CDN, edge and AI infrastructure
The draft explicitly encourages investment in data centres, cloud, colocation, CDN, edge and sovereign-computing infrastructure.

It also allows the government to promote AI-ready data-centre campuses, edge facilities and local hosting for critical public services.

BTRC may establish time-limited sandboxes or testbeds for IoT, private networks, network-as-a-service, AI-assisted network management and quantum-safe communications.

Digital inclusion and the Social Obligation Fund
The proposed policy gives the Social Obligation Fund, or SOF, a more outcome-oriented framework. Funding would be based on evidence of underserved areas, transparent selection, milestone-based disbursement, independent verification and public reporting.

Rural, coastal, island, char, haor, hill, border and disaster-prone areas—as well as persons with disabilities, older people and low-income users—would receive priority.

This is consistent with recent policy discussions around affordable devices, low-cost feature phones, instalment facilities and using universal-access funds to bring the remaining unconnected population into the digital economy.

Stronger consumer protection
Before activation, providers would have to disclose tariffs, taxes, speeds, usage limits, contract terms, device or installation charges, renewal rules, suspension, termination, refunds, complaints and compensation.

Unrequested activation, misleading zero-price claims, hidden renewal, unfair lock-in, discriminatory throttling and obstruction of lawful switching or number portability would be prohibited.

BTRC would also maintain a public quality and performance dashboard allowing comparisons by provider, geography, technology and service tier.

Cybersecurity and data governance
The draft introduces a clearer separation between cybersecurity, personal-data governance, critical telecom records and lawful interception.

Critical telecom systems would require asset inventories, access controls, encryption, vulnerability management, supply-chain security, testing, backup and incident-response mechanisms.

Importantly, the policy states that it does not itself create any new power to intercept communications. Lawful interception would remain subject to valid legal authority. Regulatory monitoring would also be purpose-limited and based on metadata or aggregated information where sufficient.

Bangladesh's Personal Data Protection Act 2026 was gazetted as an Act on April 10, 2026, creating an important legal backdrop for implementation of the new telecom framework.

Legacy international gateways to be migrated
The draft establishes International Connectivity Service Provider, or ICSP, as the principal international-connectivity licence. Submarine and terrestrial international cable activities would operate through separate endorsements. Cross-border traffic would generally have to use an approved local gateway or an authorized non-terrestrial route with equivalent accountability.

Legacy IGW, IIG, ICX and NIX functions would gradually migrate into the new structure.

The transition, however, is designed to be continuity-first. Existing services would not automatically terminate merely because a new licence category has been created. Customer information, contracts, numbers, spectrum, assets, data, employees, liabilities and government dues would have to be inventoried before migration.

What is being removed or replaced
The major proposed deletions or replacements include:

• NICSP terminology being replaced by the TCSP structure.
• ANSP no longer functioning as a standalone licence or legal entity.
• Reduced need for full telecom licences for low-risk digital services.
• Gradual replacement of legacy IGW, IIG, ICX and NIX layers.
• Repeal of the International Long Distance Telecommunication Services Policy 2010 and the Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2025 once the 2026 policy takes effect, while preserving existing legal rights, liabilities and valid authorizations during transition.

What is being newly added

The major additions include:

• Risk-based TESP regulation
• Nationwide and district ISP licences.
• TCSP endorsement structure.
• Function-Specific Authorization.
• Formal MVNO framework.
• Direct-to-device and broader non-terrestrial services.
• Data-centre, cloud, CDN and edge infrastructure.
• AI and quantum-safe communications sandboxes.
• Digital Infrastructure Single Window.
• Public registers for licences, ownership and regulatory decisions.
• Public quality and performance dashboard.
• Ten-year National Connectivity Master Plan.
• State Telecommunications Capacity and Resilience Plan.
• Evidence-based spectrum roadmap and utilization audits.
• Greater transparency in Social Obligation Fund deployment.
• Greater accountability for BTRC

The draft seeks to make BTRC decision-making more transparent, reasoned and evidence-based. Before a material regulatory proposal is submitted or adopted, BTRC would generally be required to publish an impact assessment and conduct consultation.

The assessment would consider competition, investment, government revenue, national security, cybersecurity, data protection, consumers, SMEs, employment, environment, continuity and implementation costs.

BTRC would also maintain public registers covering licences, authorizations, non-confidential beneficial ownership, consultations, decisions, quality indicators and infrastructure availability.

Implementation timetable
Once the policy takes effect, the draft proposes a 15-day, 45-day, 90-day and six-month implementation sequence.

Within 15 days, the government would establish the Steering and Review Committee and BTRC the Migration Programme Office. Within 45 days, BTRC would conduct a policy-to-instrument gap analysis. Within 90 days, the government would approve the principal regulatory frameworks. Within six months, BTRC would align the major licensing guidelines, issue TESP and Function-Specific Authorization instruments and launch public registers, the quality dashboard and infrastructure portal.

The National Connectivity Master Plan, State Telecommunications Capacity and Resilience Plan, public-institution connectivity programme and sector skills plan would also be targeted for completion within six months.

Overall assessment
The central philosophy of the proposed 2026 policy is a move from licence-centred telecom regulation towards function-, risk-, competition-, investment- and consumer-centred regulation.

It simultaneously seeks to simplify legacy licensing, open space for satellite and MVNO services, enable AI, cloud, CDN, edge, IoT and private networks, improve infrastructure sharing, strengthen consumer rights and introduce measurable regulatory accountability.

The ultimate impact, however, will depend on the final Gazette text, the subsequent guidelines, the actual spectrum-pricing methodology, inter-agency coordination and the quality of implementation by BTRC.

In particular, while the draft provides a stronger economic and public-interest framework for spectrum pricing, it does not itself establish a final reserve-price formula. That remains subject to a separate government-approved spectrum framework.

//DBTech/IH/SME//