Banglalink and Robi Split over 8.4 MHz E-GSM Spectrum Auction Timeline
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Bangladesh’s telecom regulator will proceed with an auction of 8.4 MHz in the E-GSM band this year. It is pushing ahead despite conflicting demands from rivals Banglalink and Robi Axiata.
At issue are frequencies running from 880 MHz to 888.4 MHz. Carriers need this low-band slice to deepen indoor 4G coverage and expand rural reach across Dhaka and regional districts.
Banglalink petitioned the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission on September 21 to freeze all major spectrum decisions. Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer Taimur Rahman represented the operator. He argued that releasing frequencies before the government finishes its new Telecommunications Policy risks creating structural inefficiencies. That draft policy is expected to allow active infrastructure and spectrum sharing among carriers. Such rules could alter how much raw spectrum each operator needs to hold.
Robi Axiata took the opposite stance in a September 24 letter. Chief Executive Officer Ziad Shatara urged the regulator to assign the E-GSM airwaves immediately to relieve network congestion. Pricing disputes can wait for the November 2026 spectrum renewal round, he argued. Robi also told the commission that any assigned spectrum must be contiguous to justify fresh capital expenditure.
Balance Sheets and Spectrum Scarcity
This clash between Bangladesh’s second and third largest mobile operators reflects differing network assets. Per-operator spectrum allocations in the country remain among the lowest in South Asia. Dhaka’s mobile carriers operate on thin margins and low average revenue per user. Every administrative pricing decision strains their capital allocation.
An operator with adequate sub-1 GHz capacity has an economic incentive to stall auctions until sharing rules become clear. By contrast, a carrier facing immediate cell-site bottlenecks must secure low-band megahertz regardless of policy ambiguity. For suppliers, tower companies, and corporate investors, regulatory timing in Bangladesh directly dictates infrastructure spending cycles.
“Banglalink petitioned the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission on September 21 to freeze all major spectrum decisions.”
Regulator Holds the Line
BTRC Chairman Major General Md Emdad-Ul-Bari (Retd) confirmed that the commission will stick to its timetable. The agency has already secured ministry approval to set reserve pricing.
“This has nothing to do with the policy. The government has given permission to set the pricing for the auction, noting that it is within BTRC’s jurisdiction.”
Moving ahead without industry consensus brings execution risks for the state. If only one private operator bids alongside state-owned Teletalk and market leader Grameenphone, auction revenue could fall short of government fiscal targets.
Precedents in South Asian Spectrum Sales
Administrative floor prices have repeatedly complicated spectrum auctions in Dhaka. In previous allocation exercises, Bangladeshi carriers fought government valuation benchmarks. They argued state fee structures failed to reflect real commercial returns on mobile data.
The current E-GSM plan dates to April. That month, the BTRC resolved to auction the 880 MHz to 888.4 MHz band to support rising data traffic and prepare networks for broader rollouts. That decision revived a debate over whether sub-900 MHz capacity should be awarded piecemeal or bundled into a broader reassignment across the telecom sector.
The November 2026 Renewal Window
Next comes the BTRC’s formal publication of the E-GSM auction guidelines and reserve prices ahead of the bidding rounds later this year.
Carriers will weigh those auction terms against the wider spectrum license renewals due in November 2026. Those upcoming renewals will determine how much capital mobile operators can commit to expanding their networks.
Questions & Answers
Q.Why does Banglalink want the spectrum auction to be delayed?
Why does Banglalink want the spectrum auction to be delayed?
Banglalink wants to freeze major spectrum decisions until the government finishes its new Telecommunications Policy. This policy might allow infrastructure and spectrum sharing, which could change how much raw spectrum each operator needs.
Q.What is Robi Axiata's primary reason for urging an immediate auction?
What is Robi Axiata's primary reason for urging an immediate auction?
Robi Axiata believes assigning the E-GSM airwaves immediately will help relieve network congestion. They also argue that any assigned spectrum must be contiguous to justify new capital expenditure.
Q.How does the BTRC justify moving forward with the auction despite operator disagreements?
How does the BTRC justify moving forward with the auction despite operator disagreements?
The BTRC Chairman confirmed the commission will stick to its timetable, stating it has secured ministry approval to set reserve pricing. He noted setting pricing is within the BTRC's jurisdiction and unrelated to the policy.
Q.What is the potential risk for the government if only one private operator bids in the auction?
What is the potential risk for the government if only one private operator bids in the auction?
If only one private operator bids alongside state-owned Teletalk and market leader Grameenphone, auction revenue could fall short of government fiscal targets. Moving ahead without industry consensus carries execution risks for the state.