The government has initiated a move to formulate a set of guidelines for launching fifth generation mobile phone services, known as 5G, in the country within 2021-2023.
To this end, a committee has already been formed comprising of representatives from the posts and telecommunications ministry, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and the mobile phone operators, and Dhaka University and BUET professors, among others.
The committee would now evaluate whether the 5G service would be viable for the country. Next course of action would be taken based on the findings. The government would take decision on spectrum pricing based on the committee report.
The government has fixed January 31, 2020 as the deadline for the submission of a report and to propose guidelines on 5G services by the committee.
The move of the telecom regulator came when the country’s mobile phone operators were yet to ensure quality 4G service across the country. Subscribers in some of the major areas of the country were even deprived of proper 3G service.
A number of countries including South Korea, Ireland, Spain, United Kingdom and Australia has already awarded 5G licences.
