3G guideline finalised

The telecom ministry may send the final 3G licensing guideline to the regulator today for further action, said Telecom Secretary Md Abubakar Siddique yesterday.After getting the guideline, the regulator will initiate the process of auction.

“The 3G guideline is almost finalized and will be sent to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission tomorrow (today). It will also be uploaded in websites,” Siddique said.

He said a total of four licenses will be given for 2,100 megahertz spectrum — three to the incumbent operators and one to a new entrant.

Earlier, at the end of 2012 the finance ministry set $20 million as the base or starting price for the auction for per megahertz spectrum. The spectrum will be technology-neutral and operators will be able to provide services of 3G or 4G or LTE (long term evolution). LTE offers faster speed in data transfer compared to 3G.

A total of 40 MHz spectrum will be auctioned, while another 10 MHz spectrum has already been allocated to state-owned Teletalk on a trial basis.

The operators will be able to purchase maximum 10 MHz or minimum 5 MHz spectrum. If any spectrum remains unsold, the operators will be allowed to purchase the left, but not beyond 15 MHz in total, said the telecom secretary.

Teletalk will pay for its 10 MHz as per the auction price. Five private mobile phone operators — Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel and Citycell — are expected to participate in the auction.

An internet service provider may participate in the auction as the new entrant, according to industry insiders.