4G spectrum auction to go ahead as scheduled

The 4G spectrum auction and licencing will go ahead as scheduled as the Appellate Division has upheld the freeze on a court order that stalled it, report agencies.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a Chamber Judge order that stayed a High Court order which put a bar on the tender notice floated by Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) seeking licensing guidelines and invitation of applications for the auction of 4G internet spectrum.

Meanwhile, BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood addressing a press briefing at his office Sunday expressed the hope that it would be able to roll out the fourth general(4G) network by March next.

He informed the journalists five mobile network operators (MNOs) have applied for 4G/LTE license to the telecom regulator while four MNOs applied for participating spectrum auction.

A five-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah, passed the order.

It said the order freezing the 4G auction and licensing remains halted and told the High Court to resolve its rule by Feb 28.

On Thursday, Chamber Judge Syed Mahmud Hossain stayed the HC order after BTRC filed the plea few hours into the HC order.

A HC Bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed halted the tender notice and issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the notice and the 2008 policy would not be declared illegal following a writ petition filed by private company Banglalion Communication Limited.

Posts and Telecommunications Division secretary and BTRC chairman were asked to respond to the rule as the notice contradicts the Broadband Guidelines of 2008, said lawyer Ramzan Ali Shikdar, who moved the writ.

Last month, the telecom regulator published a circular, setting the auction for Feb 13 and Jan 14 as the deadline to accept applications for licences from operators.

In May last year, BTRC forwarded the draft of the spectrum allocation and licencing guidelines to the Telecom Division.

They were sent back to the regulator on Nov 29 following the final approval by the Prime Minister's Office.