A prolonged row over mobile network installation at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's (HSIA) new Terminal 3 has dragged into its 21st week, sparking concern that passengers may face poor or no mobile connectivity when the state-of-the-art terminal becomes fully operational later this year.
For more than three years, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) have been locked in disagreement over who should build and operate the network infrastructure.
It left one of the country's flagship public projects without a clear connectivity plan.
At least 18 letters have been exchanged among the parties since April 2022, but no agreement has been reached.
CAAB has proposed a model under which mobile operators would compete through a tender, with the highest bidder installing the infrastructure and providing access to other operators.
The winning bidder would also be required to pay a Tk 30 million security deposit, rent for multiple terminal spaces, and share a portion of its profits from digital services and revenue from other operators.
Mobile operators have rejected the proposal, describing it as "commercially unclear" and inconsistent with global and domestic practice, where authorities typically provide space for network deployment either free of charge or at nominal rent.
In a joint letter to CAAB, Banglalink, Grameenphone, and Robi Axiata proposed an alternative cooperative model.
Under their plan, one operator would take the lead in deploying the Distributed Antenna System (DAS), a network of antennas designed to enhance indoor mobile coverage, while others would integrate their systems using their respective spectrums.
The operators also argued that requiring a security deposit is not standard practice for such installations and offered instead to pay rent similar to that charged for Terminals 1 and 2.
Both AMTOB and the BTRC have opposed CAAB's plan to engage a third party to install the network, saying only licensed operators are legally authorised to set up and operate telecom infrastructure.
AMTOB has warned that using or permitting the use of radio equipment without a licence constitutes a punishable offence under existing telecom laws.
It also cited successful joint network deployments at other critical government sites, including Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Bangladesh Secretariat, and the metro rail, as examples of operator-led collaboration.
On May 7, CAAB, AMTOB, and the BTRC held a tripartite meeting in an attempt to break the deadlock. However, operator sources said CAAB remained firm on its proposal to include a revenue-sharing mechanism and potentially involve a third party.
In a follow-up letter dated May 29, AMTOB warned that launching the terminal without adequate mobile coverage would be "disastrous" for passengers and airport operations.
Operators estimated that they would need roughly 21 weeks, just over five months, to complete installation once final permissions are granted.
Despite these repeated warnings, there has been no significant progress.
With Terminal 3's construction now complete and its full-scale operation expected by the end of 2025, industry insiders caution that continued delays could hurt passenger experience and undermine the terminal's international reputation.
AMTOB Secretary General Lt Col (retd) Mohammad Zulfikar said discussions with CAAB have been ongoing since 2022, adding that a trial network solution had already been successfully tested during the terminal's soft launch that year.
"We remain hopeful that CAAB will consider the practical challenges and adopt a sustainable solution consistent with telecom regulations," he told The Financial Express.
Repeated attempts to obtain comments from CAAB officials went unanswered.
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