In an effort to enhance uninterrupted broadband internet speed and quality, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced plans to ban the import and production of routers that do not support dual-band technology. This move follows the recent decision to open the 6 GHz band from the National Frequency Allocation Policy.
BTRC sources revealed that many routers currently sold in the market only support a single band, which limits their capacity, resulting in subpar internet speeds for consumers. To address this, BTRC plans to impose a requirement that all routers produced or imported from April 2025 must support both 2.4 to 2.8 GHz and 5.7 to 5.8 GHz spectrums.
Welcoming this initiative, Suman Ahmed Sabir, Executive Council Member of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) and an internet and network engineer, commented, “Single-band routers, particularly the 2.4 GHz ones, are becoming obsolete globally. With the use of 6 GHz and extended 6 GHz routers, consumers deserve better quality internet. The BTRC’s decision to mandate dual-band support is timely and essential.”
Saiful Islam Siddiq, Managing Director of ICC Communication, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This is a great initiative for improving the last-mile customer experience. It should have been implemented earlier. Many devices in a household, such as modern smart TVs, smartphones, and tablets, now support 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency. This shift will lead to proper optimization and prevent network congestion, allowing consumers to enjoy high-speed internet seamlessly.”
Industry experts believe that this step will ensure that broadband users experience the actual speeds provided by internet service providers, reducing complaints and improving overall service quality.
