Grameenphone, the country’s leading telecommunications service provider, has launched the nationwide deployment of the recently acquired 700 MHz spectrum band as the first operator in Bangladesh, marking a significant milestone in advancing digital connectivity and enhancing customer experience across the country, a press release said.

To mark the deployment, Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Grameenphone, made the announcement on June 14 at an event held at a hotel in Dhaka, where Rehan Asif Asad, Advisor to the Honorable Prime Minister for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, was present as the Chief Guest, and Major General (Retd.) Md Emdad Ul Bari, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), attended the programme as Special Guest.

The deployment is expected to significantly enhance indoor coverage and strengthen nationwide mobile coverage, particularly in rural areas, helping bridge the digital divide and bringing more people under the umbrella of quality digital connectivity. The low-band characteristics of the 700 MHz spectrum enable wider coverage per base station site, allowing faster and more cost-effective network expansion.

Speaking at the event, Rehan Asif Asad, Advisor to the Honorable Prime Minister for Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, said, “The deployment of the 700 MHz spectrum marks another important step toward strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure. Expanding high-quality connectivity across urban and rural areas alike will help accelerate digital inclusion, support economic growth, and enhance access to essential services for people across Bangladesh.” 

Major General (Retd.) Md Emdad Ul Bari, Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), said “The deployment of the 700 MHz spectrum represents a significant step forward in strengthening Bangladesh’s telecommunications ecosystem and expanding equitable access to digital services. As a low-band spectrum, it will play a critical role in improving coverage quality, particularly in indoor environments and underserved areas across the country. For customers, this means more reliable connectivity, better voice and data performance, and improved access to essential digital services—regardless of location.” 

Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Grameenphone, said, “The deployment of the 700 MHz spectrum demonstrates Grameenphone’s continued commitment to delivering a superior network experience to customers across the country. It will play an essential role in enhancing 4G performance and enable us to prepare for future-ready technologies such as 5G, AI, and IoT by supporting higher data speeds, lower latency, and a higher-quality user experience across diverse environments. This spectrum will also significantly enhance indoor coverage, strengthen rural connectivity, and enable us to provide more reliable and seamless digital services to millions of customers. We thank BTRC and the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology for allocating the spectrum, supporting the development of a future-ready telco ecosystem.”

Earlier this year, BTRC allocated Grameenphone 10 MHz spectrum in the 700 MHz band for the first time in Bangladesh, following a transparent and structured process. The spectrum has been allocated for a period of 13 years. With this allocation, Grameenphone will contribute around BDT 2,200 crore to the national exchequer over the allocation period.