GP seeks extra spectrum at discounted price

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Grameenphone has sought additional spectrum for an interim period to provide better internet services as their network is becoming busier for a surge in data consumption amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Three other operators also have sought additional spectrum from the regulator, albeit cost free, but Grameenphone really wants to either pay a low price or share revenue with the government.

Yasir Azman, ceo of the country's leading mobile operator, expressed the intention at a recent ending up in Md Jahurul Haque, chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Hossain Sadat, head of regulatory affairs of the operator, told The Daily Star.

"We will soon send a letter to the regulator seeking the additional spectrum," he added.

If users progress service, the operators' plea can be viewed as as the government includes a huge amount of unused spectrum, Haque said.

The BTRC has shared the operators' proposals with Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar and a decision must come from the federal government.

"The operators are helping the federal government combat the coronavirus pandemic, and in return, in addition they deserve something from us," Haque added.

Sadat said these were against the thought of free allocation of spectrum.

"We believe, it is now time we all need to come forward and join hands with the federal government in its fight the COVID-19."

Spectrum ought to be allocated in that manner that the parties are benefitted equally, he added.

"As a result of countrywide lockdown, data traffic has increased by a lot more than 25 per cent inside our network," said Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi, the country's second greatest operator.

Due to the emerging situation, service quality will be hard to make sure if the additional spectrum isn't allocated.

"That's why we've requested the federal government to consider allocating us additional spectrum for 90 days without any charge."

Alam claimed that the grade of their service will improve substantially within seven days to getting the additional spectrum.

Currently, Grameenphone has 37 Megahertz (MHz) of spectrum, Robi 36.4MHz, Banglalink 30.6MHz and Teletalk 25MHz in several bands.

Earlier, Grameenphone on several occasions had sought spectrum at a lower life expectancy rate but the regulator didn't pay heed to its request.

The BTRC always maintained a stance that the operators would need to pay a price per the last auction in February 2018 when Grameenphone and Banglalink had bought each MHz of the spectrum at $31 million.

Early this month, the operators also requested the BTRC to exempt them from sharing earnings with the government at least for two months so that they can tackle the crisis during the challenging business climate due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mobile carriers now share 6.5 per cent of their gross revenue with the government.

The telecom sector is going through some challenges like other areas of the economy as a result of pandemic, the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh had said in a statement.

Mobile carriers are already observing trends in use patterns that may leave a dent on the overall revenue, it said.

The operators already slashed data pack tariffs carrying out a request from the telecom regulator, which includes led to a surge in data usage.

Although data consumption keeps growing rapidly, data monetisation continues to be low, said SM Farhad, secretary-general of the association.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net

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