Industry leaders in the telecom sector have called for a truly independent Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), urging that reforms should be free from political bias and favouritism.
They underscored the need to curb autocratic practices in the use of technology, ensure balanced licensing and promote equal opportunities for all.
The demand was raised at a stakeholder meeting on the ecosystem review of the sector at the telecom regulator's headquarters at Agargaon on Thursday.
Md Roknuzzaman, an electrical and computer engineering professor at North South University, delivered a keynote speech, highlighting the need to dismantle the existing market monopoly.
BTRC chairman Maj Gen (retd) Emdad Ul Bari presided over the meeting with industry leaders and representatives of various telecom organisations in attendance.
Mr Bari acknowledged that mobile services in Bangladesh were originally launched with the goal of enhancing connectivity, rather than mobility, and that the infrastructure was primarily designed for voice-call networks.
However, introduction of data services and growing concern over VoIP usage have complicated the sector's growth, with the industry struggling to adapt.
He acknowledged the global shift towards data-driven services, describing data as the "lifeline" of modern telecom infrastructure.
"Clinging to outdated network topologies is no longer feasible," remarked Mr Bari, stressing the urgency of reform.
While state monopolies have been diminished, he noted that private monopolies have emerged, requiring regulatory interventions.
"BTRC must act as an independent commission free from political interference, especially in licensing matters," Mr Bari said, adding that reforms were needed to rectify past missteps and align the ecosystem with industry demands.
He also pointed out that many licences would expire by 2027, urging swift action to create customer-friendly infrastructure and eliminate middlemen.
Industry figures like technology expert Suman Ahmed Sabir, Robi CEO Rajib Shetty, former AMTOB president Mahtab Uddin Ahmed and Mango Telecom CEO Mannan Khan offered their perspectives.
Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) president Emdadul Haque stated that a level-playing field was yet to be established, with fixed pricing for ISPs and IIGs but not for mobile operators.
He also pointed out obstacles in deploying CDNs in the last mile along with tax and VAT issues that prevent the reduction of internet costs at grass-roots level.
Responding to media queries after the meeting, the BTRC chief acknowledged that licences were previously granted based on favouritism, often resulting in suboptimal service.
He emphasised the need for clear and dependable regulations, stating that BTRC's transformation from a telecommunications regulator into a digital service provider was underway.
Global tech giants like Google and Facebook will invest in Bangladesh once trust in the regulatory framework is restored, according to Mr Bari, hinting at imminent reforms involving industry, academia and regulatory experts.
Meanwhile, ex-Robi CEO Mahtab emphasised BTRC's reform, pointing out that telecom department and relevant ministries should not be involved in BTRC's decision-making processes.
"The BTRC must be empowered to make autonomous decisions without interference from other government bodies," he observed.
Mr Ahmed argued that data pricing should remain untouched, given that 60-70 per cent of telecom revenue comes from voice calls.
He sought a unified licensing system in sync with global practices and advocated that towers be managed by Towerco, with both active and passive infrastructure sharing among operators to curb market concentration.
Additionally, the telecom expert suggested utilising unused bandwidth from submarine cables and transferring control of domestic data centres from the ICT Division to the BTRC.
According to Mr Ahmed, the BTRC must prioritise long-term industry growth over merely acting as a revenue-collecting body.
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