Dhaka Bureau: Three mobile phone operators in the country, Grameenphone, Robi, and Teletalk, took a step towards the launch of 5G. However, Banglalink did not get approval. In a ceremony in Dhaka on Monday, three operators were given the unified license of the fifth-generation technology, 5G, to provide high-speed internet services.
Banglalink’s board meeting did not approve the license application due to the price-sensitive information (PSI) of Banglalink’s parent company, Vion, which is listed on two stock markets abroad. That is why one of the operators did not get a license for this trip. The operator said in a message this night that he will apply in this regard soon.
BTRC chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed said that after getting a unified license, the operators will not need any license to provide 5G or higher technology wireless services.
At the same time, under this 15-year license, the operators do not have to take separate licenses for 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G.
Currently, operators are providing 4G-generation wireless services in the country. Earlier, various activities were undertaken by the regulatory body BTRC and operators as part of preparation for 5G.
It was informed in the event that in the case of 5G, the unified license takes into consideration the availability of sufficient spectrum and ‘backhaul fiber’ as well as permission to use ‘public infrastructure’, offshore cloud facilities, ‘rollout’ obligations, and network security.
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak officially handed over the license at the main conference room of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building in Agargaon, Dhaka.
In light of the ‘Regulatory and Licensing’ policy, the operators are given this unified license under ‘Cellular Mobile Services Operator License’ and ‘Radio Communications Apparatus License for Cellular Mobile Services’.
Earlier on February 6, the Department of Posts and Telecommunications approved the guideline titled Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Cellular Mobile Services in Bangladesh.
Commenting that this decision to give a unified license will bring positive results in the telecommunications sector, State Minister Palak said that the timely decision of BTRC currently has 19 crore mobile subscribers and about 13 crore internet subscribers in the telecommunications sector. With the opportunity to provide multi-dimensional services under this license, the operators will get the benefit of their investment, and the government’s revenue collection will also increase, he said. The state minister advised the operators to launch digital products.
Chairman of BTRC Mohiuddin said that for the implementation of 5G technology, the waves have already been allocated in favor of the operators, and as a result of the unified license, there is no more complication in providing new technical services, including 5G. He urged the mobile operators to quickly implement the services they have the opportunity to provide under this license.
Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Yasir Azman called it a ‘celebratory moment’ and said the license was a major achievement for all operators in the country.
Robi’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer, Mohammad Sahedul Alam, said that, as a result, operators will be able to provide services easily using all types of technology as per their choice. It will play an important role in ensuring quality service.
Welcoming this initiative, the Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer of the unlicensed Banglalink said in a message at night, ‘We think this is a timely step. As our parent company Vion is a listed company on Nasdaq and Euronext, they are required to meet certain corporate governance requirements before receiving any license, which is taking some time. Once that is done, we will apply to get it.
Brigadier General Mohammad Moniruzzaman Jewell, Director General of the Spectrum Division of the BTRC, said that their organization is working to ensure that enough waves and ‘access frequencies’ are available by 2035.
BTRC’s press release in the evening highlighted these facts and said that currently, the operators are providing cellular mobile services in the country under these licenses.
