Dhaka: Speakers at a seminar on the telecom and digital ecosystem today underscored the need for structural reforms, stronger regulatory coordination, simplified approval processes, and long-term policy predictability to accelerate Bangladesh’s transition towards a high-value digital economy. They highlighted issues related to market concentration, investment facilitation, infrastructure development, regulatory efficiency, and service quality improvement across the telecom sector.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Telecom and Technology Reporters’ Network (TRNB) organized the seminar titled ‘Telecom Future: New Government’s Vision’ in a city hotel. While delivering the keynote presentation, Robi’s Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Barrister Shahed Alam noted that although Bangladesh has made progress in connectivity and usage, it remains primarily a technology consumption market rather than a high-value technology innovation hub. He also emphasized the need for simplifying the approval process for launching new services.
Competition law expert and former Director of the Bangladesh Competition Commission Khaled Abu Naser pointed out that nearly 91 percent of market profit is concentrated in a single company, creating monopoly conditions. He urged the BTRC to transcend its role as merely a revenue collector and collaborate with the Competition Commission to expand the digital economy.
Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) Secretary General Lt. Col.(Retd) Mohammad Zulfikar stressed the importance of ensuring an uninterrupted power and energy supply from the national grid for data centres and requested support for foreign direct investment.
Foreign Investors’ Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Chief Executive Officer T I M Nurul Kabir called for a clear telecom roadmap, coordination among different ministries, and tax reforms, including VAT registration under the BTRC.
BUET Professor and telecom expert Dr. Lutfa Akhter urged full digital transformation of the BTRC, simplification of licensing procedures, and improvement of service quality.
Banglalink Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Taimur Rahman highlighted emerging opportunities and challenges related to spectrum pricing, expansion of optical fibre networks, and infrastructure sharing. Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the state-owned mobile operator, Teletalk, provided clarifications regarding media reports on government dues and spectrum allocation concerning the company, requesting new government investment for its development.