B Mirror Report : Bangladesh’s telecom regulator, BTRC, has in principle approved the allocation of 10 MHz of the 700 MHz spectrum to Grameenphone (GP) at the reserve price, generating Tk 23.70 billion for the government. This marks the country’s first commercial assignment of the band, though final approval is pending at the commission’s next meeting.

The decision has triggered sharp criticism from rival operators and industry experts, who say recent rule changes allowing spectrum to be assigned at the base price in single-bidder situations favor GP, raising concerns over regulatory neutrality and fair competition. Around 20 MHz of the 700 MHz band remains embroiled in a long-running legal dispute with broadband provider Always On Network, prompting the High Court to question the legality and constitutionality of proceeding with an auction when only one bidder is participating. The court has asked senior officials, including the BTRC chairman and the Posts and Telecommunications Secretary, to respond within four weeks.

Robi Axiata, Banglalink, and state-owned Teletalk stayed away from the auction, citing concerns over pricing, transparency, and long-term market imbalance. Critics warn that giving premium low-band spectrum to the dominant operator could widen disparities in coverage, network performance, and investment, potentially harming consumers and contradicting BTRC’s statutory duty to promote effective competition.

Grameenphone said it has received confirmation from BTRC of its eligibility and plans to use the spectrum to enhance coverage especially in underserved and indoor areas as well as network efficiency, reliability, and service quality for its 85.6 million customers. The company emphasized that the allocation will support Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure and help create a future-ready telecom ecosystem.

The episode has sparked broader debate about transparency, consultation, and whether spectrum policy is being used to consolidate market power rather than maintain a level playing field. Observers say the legal and regulatory scrutiny could have lasting implications for how Bangladesh manages its finite telecom resources in the future.