Grameenphone has begun the nationwide deployment of the 700 MHz spectrum band, becoming the first mobile operator in Bangladesh to launch services using the frequency range.
The announcement was made by Yasir Azman, chief executive officer of Grameenphone, at an event in Dhaka on June 14. Rehan Asif Asad, adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Major General (Retd.) Md Emdad Ul Bari, chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), also attended the event.
The deployment follows BTRC’s allocation of 10 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band to Grameenphone earlier this year. The licence runs for 13 years and is expected to contribute around BDT 2,200 crore to the national exchequer over the allocation period, according to Grameenphone.
The 700 MHz band is a low-frequency segment of the radio spectrum used by mobile operators to deliver wireless broadband services. Compared with higher-frequency spectrum, signals in the band can travel longer distances and penetrate buildings more effectively, making it particularly useful for expanding coverage in rural areas and improving indoor connectivity. The frequency range is widely used internationally for 4G networks and is also being incorporated into 5G deployments.
