Four operators made successful bids, with Telenor-owned Grameenphone winning the auction to acquire 10MHz of spectrum for $210 million.
The other winners included Airtel, Orascom-owned Bangalink and Robi, a joint venture between Axiata and Japan-based NTT. Each will pay $105 million for their winning bid for 5MHz of spectrum.
The introduction of 3G is seen as a major step in the development of Bangladesh’s telecoms sector, as it bids to become one of the world’s fastest-growing telecoms markets, according to Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Operators will pay 60% of the total spectrum price as the first instalment, with the rest to be paid within three months.
The country has a total of six mobile operators. State-owned operator Teletalk launched 3G services on a test basis last year. The company will also have to pay $210 million for its 10MHz of spectrum.
