Despite implementation of the “One Country, One Rate” policy, customers remain dissatisfied, and telecom operators (MNOs) and National Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) companies face challenges over fair service delivery. MNOs claim NTTNs are reaping high profits with minimal investment while allegedly breaching service agreements and providing unauthorized overhead fiber connections. Additionally, NTTNs are reportedly collecting high one-time charges (OTCs) for infrastructure development without notable improvement in services. Telecom industry stakeholders are urging the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to ensure fair adherence to guidelines, maintain boundaries for infrastructure and access network providers, and limit the number of licenses, prioritizing service quality.
These issues were discussed at a seminar titled “Importance of Telecommunications Networks in Facing Future Challenges,” organized by the Telecom Reporters Network of Bangladesh (TRNB) on Monday morning.
Shahad Alam, Corporate & Enforcement Affairs Officer at Robi Axiata, noted that NTTNs were launched in 2009 under government pressure, initially supporting 3G, which is now obsolete globally. He highlighted that despite investments in fiber development, Bangladesh ranks 77th out of 93 countries in fiber infrastructure.
Farukh Imtiaz, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Summit Communications, emphasized the need for policy clarity in fiber layout and resource allocation, suggesting a win-win approach to investment protection that could ultimately reduce internet costs.
Banglalink’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Taimur Rahman, commented on the restricted availability of fiber, describing it as essential for mobile operators. He noted that Bangladesh and Nigeria are the only countries where this essential resource faces limitations.
Responding to the criticisms, Fiber@Home Chairman Moinul Haque Siddiqui said NTTNs were introduced to bridge the digital divide, with shared networks helping reduce transmission costs by nearly 100%. He expressed a willingness to comply with regulatory guidelines and engage with the industry to improve services, including removing overhead fiber if required.
Prof. Mosaddek Hossain Kamal from Dhaka University pointed out frequent call drops and network issues, underscoring the need to clarify service distinctions between mobile operators and ISPs and to explore innovative services and shared fiber networks.
The seminar, presided over by BTRC Chairman Emdadul Bari, was attended by representatives from Telitalk, university faculty members, and officials from the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) and Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB).
The keynote was presented by former TRNB President Rashed Mehdi, with opening remarks by TRNB Secretary Masuduzzaman Robin and welcoming speech by President Samir Kumar De. The presentation highlighted that as of 2024, approximately 171,106 kilometers of transmission network, both public and private, have expanded across Bangladesh, extending internet-based services to union levels nationwide.
