Dhaka – Robi Axiata PLC has officially become the first mobile operator in Bangladesh to launch commercial 5G services, marking a historic step in the nation’s digital transformation. The milestone was announced Monday at Robi’s corporate headquarters, with senior government officials and regulators hailing it as a “new chapter” for connectivity.
Robi confirmed that 5G is now live in Fakirapul, Maghbazar Chowrasta, parts of Dhaka University, Khulshi in Chattogram, and Sagor Dighir Par in Sylhet, with expansion to continue in phases. Acting CEO M. Riyaaz Rasheed credited government support and partnerships with Ericsson and Huawei for enabling the rollout. Regulatory Affairs Head Shahed Alam outlined plans to scale to over 200 sites by the end of 2025 and 1,000 by the end of 2026, prioritizing areas with at least 20% smartphone penetration.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser, praised Robi’s pioneering role but cautioned that 5G must not be limited to urban elites. He urged a phased shutdown of 2G and 3G to free spectrum, strict enforcement of quality benchmarks after weak 4G performance, and collaborative efforts with device manufacturers and banks to expand smartphone access.
However, Robi’s moment in the spotlight was quickly challenged when rival Grameenphone (GP) made an unanticipated announcement just two hours later, launching its own 5G services across all divisional cities. The move, led by CEO Yasir Azman, was described by critics as reactionary, but GP positioned it as a bold nationwide rollout to “deliver transformative technology to the people of Bangladesh.”
ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury highlighted 5G’s potential to enhance education, healthcare, employment, and smart cities, while BTRC Chairman Major General (retd) Md Emdad ul Bari called it a “new horizon” for the telecom sector.
As Bangladesh takes its first steps into 5G, industry leaders and regulators stressed that the real test will be in ensuring affordability, coverage, and use cases that serve all citizens—from rickshaw-pullers to high-tech industries—making 5G a truly national asset.
