Bangladesh’s government has directed the telecom regulator to allocate a significant portion of the remaining 700 MHz spectrum to state-owned operator Teletalk, despite the company having outstanding dues exceeding Tk 5,500 crore in unpaid spectrum fees and related liabilities. The decision has sparked debate over compliance with existing spectrum allocation guidelines.
According to official documents, the Posts and Telecommunications Division instructed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to allocate 10 MHz of the remaining 15 MHz in the 700 MHz band to Teletalk through an executive order. The spectrum remained unsold following a recent auction in which Grameenphone secured 10 MHz at the base price of Tk 237 crore per MHz, becoming the only participating bidder.
The move has raised concerns because current spectrum policies generally restrict fresh allocations to operators with outstanding payments. Teletalk currently holds liabilities amounting to Tk 5,506 crore. BTRC officials acknowledged the guideline constraints but indicated that provisions exist for such allocations under special arrangements, noting that similar decisions have been taken previously.
The 700 MHz band is widely regarded as highly valuable due to its technical advantages, including wider coverage range, stronger indoor penetration, and lower infrastructure requirements compared to higher-frequency bands. These characteristics make it particularly suitable for expanding rural coverage, improving urban connectivity, and supporting both 4G expansion and future 5G deployment.
Teletalk currently serves approximately 6.8 million subscribers, representing about 3.66 percent of Bangladesh’s mobile market. Industry observers note that access to low-band spectrum could help strengthen its network capabilities, although questions remain regarding regulatory consistency and financial sustainability.
