Bangladesh 3G spectrum auction: Airtel bags 5MHz for $105 million

In the auctions held Sunday, the country's top Grameenphone bagged 3G licence for 10 Megahertz (MHz) spectrum at the price of $210 million, while Banglalink, Robi and Airtel each acquired 5 MHz of spectrum at a price of $105 million, reported Xinhua.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) arranged the auction to sell 40 MHz spectrum on 2100 bands. The floor price of one MHz spectrum was fixed at $20 million.

Experts said the launch of 3G services would assist in minimising the "digital divide" in Bangladesh.

The 3G spectrum would enable companies to tap more revenue from fast-growing data services and reduce regulatory costs under a new licensing regime, they added.

Leading global telecom vendors Ericsson and Huawei are already running 3G trials in Bangladesh.

A Grameenphone official said the company would bring 3G services to customers in the fastest possible time.

The total number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh is around 107 million.

Bangladesh in October 2012 entered the next generation of wireless communications when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the long-awaited 3G mobile services via state-run cell phone operator Teletalk.

The country's oldest operator Citycell applied for 3G licenses, but failed to deposit the $20 million.

The Bangladesh government in June 2012 signed a loan agreement worth $211 million with the Export-Import Bank of China for introduction of 3G and expansion of the 2.5G network in the country.