Dhaka: The Advisory Council today approved the 'Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy, 2025', marking a significant breakthrough in the country's telecom sector. Chief Adviser's Special Assistant on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, announced this development at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy in the city. He elaborated on the details of the newly sanctioned policy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Taiyeb revealed that the previous licensing regime, which encompassed a total of 3,299 licenses spanning 26 types, failed to standardize telecom services and maintain price consistency relative to quality. To tackle this issue, the new policy has streamlined the licensing structure to just three types, enabling a concentrated effort to enhance the Quality of Service (QoS) in line with citizens' requirements.
Taiyeb highlighted that the previous system permitted middlemen to claim revenue shares without contributing substantial value to the sector. This has been reformed under the new policy, leading to increased government revenues that will be reallocated towards citizen-centric initiatives, such as expanding coverage in climate-vulnerable areas and ensuring affordable services.
Based on the recommendations of a committee formed by the Chief Adviser and chaired by the Planning Adviser, about 10 significant changes were made before the revised proposal for this policy was presented to the Advisory Council, Taiyeb noted. The new policy will enable telecom companies to offer improved services competitively through active and passive sharing, thereby enhancing the quality of telecom services and creating opportunities for increased foreign direct investment (FDI).
Furthermore, the policy paves the way for next-generation services and technologies, including Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), VoWiFi, WiFi-6, WiFi-7, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Special Assistant mentioned. He also noted that by eliminating barriers to providing new digital services, innovation opportunities have been crafted for newcomers, particularly for SMEs.
Taiyeb stated, "Through this, backward communities will also be included in the connectivity framework, enabling telecom services to effectively contribute to vital sectors such as agriculture, education, and health."