Yunus urges Axiata to launch 5G, invest in Bangladesh data centres

Business Desk :

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday urged leading Malaysian telecom firm Axiata to roll out 5G services in Bangladesh and invest in the country’s data centres.

The Chief Adviser made the call when an Axiata team met him at his hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Prof Yunus stressed that Bangladesh needs high-speed internet for its growing economy and to attract investment from global companies eager to tap into its digital economy.

The Interim Government, he said, is streamlining licensing regimes to create a more business-friendly environment for top telecommunications operators.

Vivek Sood, Group CEO of Axiata Berhad-parent company of cellular operator Robi, said the company had conducted a 5G trial in Bangladesh but noted that the expansion of the country’s fibre optic network is essential for full 5G deployment.

Sood said Robi has invested around US$200 million annually in Bangladesh in recent years and remains open to investing in 5G services.

He, however, cited costly spectrum fees and a fragmented licensing regime as factors weighing on foreign operators’ investment decisions. Axiata is also interested in joint venture partnerships for data centres in Bangladesh, he added.