By Aminul Hoque Polash On January 14, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) held the so-called auction for the 700 MHz band spectrum. On paper, it’s called an “auction,” but in reality, this is a scripted gift handed to Grameenphoneโwhose ultimate beneficiary is crystal clear: Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
The entire process has been wrapped up in just a month and a half, almost silently. Grameenphone and Robi showed interestโbut at the last moment, Robi withdrew its name, leaving Grameenphone as the sole player in the field. The final plan: 25 MHz spectrumโ15-year licenseโbase price of only Tk230 crore (per MHz).
The question now is, is this a genuine auction, or is it Yunus gifting the spectrum to Grameenphoneโand thereby to himself?
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Let’s try to understand the matter.
What is 700 MHz? Why is it called โGolden Spectrum’?
700 MHz is a low-band spectrum. This means:
– It covers vast areas with fewer towers
– Signals penetrate easily into villages, hills, rivers, and inside buildings
– It is the most effective band for 4G and 5G networks
– Operators’ costs decrease while network capacity multiplies many times over
For these reasons, every country in the world treats 700 MHz as a strategic national asset. It is never rushed out hastily. Instead, it is allocated through long preparation, transparent policies, and truly competitive auctions.
How do other countries allocate 700 MHz?
India: After digital TV migration, spectrum refarming, and multiple policy revisions, the auction.ย
Europe: 5โ7 years of preparation, market analysis, and multi-operator balance.ย
United States: Public consultation, congressional oversight, and open and transparent auction.ย
No country releases 700 MHz in a month and a half, silently, for a single company.
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Is Bangladesh even prepared? Straight answerโno. Because:
– Network sharing policy is weak
– The telecom market is already unevenly competitive
– No fair and independent valuation of the spectrum has been done
In this situation, what will happen if 700 MHz is allocated now?
Grameenphone’s coverage and cost advantages will surge so far ahead that it will effectively create a monopoly in practice.
Who benefits?
Here, it’s not just the “company”โindividuals and vested interests matter most. Grameenphone’s 34.2% shares are owned by Grameen Telecom, which is under the sole control of Yunus.
If the state’s Golden Spectrum is handed over at a low price, without competition, exclusively to Grameenphone, then whose pocket will the profits flow into? No further explanation seems necessary.
Where is the hypocrisy?
On one hand, under the guise of implementing NEIR, BTRC has pressured mobile operators, destabilising the market. On the other hand, behind that instability, everyone’s eyes are being diverted while the Golden Spectrum is quietly handed over to Grameenphone.
The most alarming aspect: A writ petition was filed in the High Court to stop this auction, but astonishingly, no judge was willing to hear it.
700 MHz is not an ordinary license. It is the future of internet, rural connectivity, and Bangladesh’s digital sovereignty.
If this spectrum is rushed through secretly, with monopolistic favouritism, the damage will be to the country, its people, and the entire telecom sector.
And the profit? The entire profit goes straight to Yunus!
Aminul Hoque Polash: Security expert and former diplomat.
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