5G spectrum auctions in Mar

The 5G spectrum auctions will be held in March next year, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar has said.

“The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission will hold the auctions,” he told The Business Post on Wednesday.

To mark the ‘Digital Bangladesh Day’ on December 12, state-owned mobile phone operator Teletalk Bangladesh Limited will roll out a 5G trial run in some spots in Dhaka, however.

With the launching of the 5G network services, the government eyes a technological upgrade across industrial, consumer, healthcare, and educational sectors in line with similar trends across the developed world.

“The 5G service would act as a catalyst for advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, IoT, robotics, blockchain, and so on,” said the minister.

Teletalk already got 60 Megahertz (MHz) 3.5 GHz band spectrum to roll out 5G services on a trial basis.

“We have initially planned to launch the 5G network services in a few publicly important places such as Bangabhaban, Ganobhaban, Sangsad Bhaban, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Dhanmondi 32,’’ said Jabbar.

He also said, “We also plan to extend this service at Gopalganj’s Tungipara and also in Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar area.”