BTRC inspection lays bare the gap between 4G promises
Business Report :
A recent inspection by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has uncovered significant shortcomings in mobile network services, exposing a stark mismatch between operators’ lofty claims of 98-99 percent population-wide 4G coverage and the reality experienced by users across the country.
According to BTRC documents, four inspection teams from the Enforcement and Inspection Directorate conducted field visits across remote and urban locations in Tangail, Bogura, Gaibandha, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Sherpur.
Using advanced quality-measurement tools, inspectors found that 4G services were unavailable in large areas of Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet. The teams also detected no or weak 2G and 4G signals in Tangail’s Sakhipur, Gaibandha Sadar, Kanchi Bazar and Bogura’s Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital.
The inspections further noted frequent call drops, blurry video calls and complete lack of indoor coverage in many locations. In places such as tea garden zones in Sylhet and the hilly Teliabagar Tea Garden in Habiganj, challenging terrain and the shortage of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) compounded network failures.
BTRC found that operators failed to meet regulatory benchmarks for 4G rollout in Tangail, Bogura and Gaibandha, violating service guidelines, licence conditions and previous directives.
Beyond coverage gaps, the regulator documented unauthorised balance deductions, non-compliance with Pay-As-You-Go rules and complications related to e-SIM services.
Mobile services also collapsed during load-shedding in parts of Cumilla, Noakhali and Chattogram, disrupting mobile banking, digital services and daily communication for students, farmers and small traders.
Despite these findings, operators insist their networks meet national standards.
Grameenphone claims 98 percent population coverage, Robi 98.98 percent and Banglalink around 93 percent.
Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer at Banglalink, said dense urban construction and landlords’ reluctance to allow tower installations hinder expansion. He added that Bangladesh’s high cost of low-band spectrum remains a barrier to improving nationwide coverage.
Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer at Robi Axiata PLC, defended the company’s performance, stating that BTRC had already cleared Robi’s rollout obligations and that gaps cited in the report relate to “specific spots or buildings,” where operators are not required to ensure 4G availability.
To address the widespread shortcomings, BTRC recommended installing more BTS sites in weak-coverage zones, enforcing rollout benchmarks-including legal action for non-compliance-and strengthening oversight of unauthorised billing. The regulator also suggested forming a joint monitoring cell with operator representatives to speed up resolution of customer complaints, particularly those involving billing and e-SIM issues.