Bangladesh is preparing to move toward a unified, one-stop digital platform to accelerate telecom infrastructure deployment, following the introduction of the Telecommunication Network and Licensing Policy 2025. The policy formally recognises tower companies and optical fibre providers as National Infrastructure and Connectivity Service Providers (NICSPs), acknowledging the strategic role of shared digital infrastructure in supporting connectivity, economic growth, and digital transformation.
Industry experts argue that the next critical step is to declare telecom infrastructure an essential service, similar to electricity and water. Such a move would create a more enabling regulatory environment and help fast-track nationwide network expansion. A simplified, transparent, and time-bound approval mechanism—ideally through a single-window system integrating all relevant authorities—would significantly reduce procedural delays and investment barriers.
Mobile data demand in Bangladesh continues to rise sharply, driven by digital adoption across education, healthcare, banking, e-commerce, agriculture, and e-government. Average monthly data usage per subscriber is estimated at 6GB in 2024 and is projected to reach 14GB by 2030. However, challenges remain, with mobile internet penetration at just 34 percent despite 60 percent unique subscriber penetration, highlighting the need for denser networks and improved indoor coverage, especially as the country prepares for 5G.
The deployment of next-generation networks will require extensive small-cell installations, particularly in urban areas, where sites may be needed every 100 metres. Yet infrastructure rollout is often delayed by fragmented approval processes involving multiple authorities, leading to deployment timelines of six to twelve months and higher costs. Existing legal provisions under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act already grant operators right-of-way access, but implementation remains inconsistent.
Bangladesh has already demonstrated the effectiveness of centralised digital platforms through initiatives such as the BIDA One-Stop Service and the National Board of Revenue’s Bangladesh Single Window, both of which have improved transparency, reduced processing time, and streamlined approvals. International examples from India, Malaysia, the European Union, Brazil, and others further illustrate how single-window, time-bound systems can accelerate 5G and fibre deployment.
By adopting a national one-stop digital platform for telecom right-of-way approvals under the regulator’s leadership, Bangladesh could significantly speed up infrastructure rollout, reduce costs, and improve service quality. Such reform would support 4G and 5G expansion, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen the country’s long-term competitiveness in the digital economy.
