If reports are to be believed, the new 2G spectrum licence proposal from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has baffled the operators.

According to the draft 2G licence renewal guideline, radio spectrum prices per Megahertz (MHz) are set at Tk 300 crore for the 900 MHz band, Tk 150 crore for the 1,800 MHz band of GSM technology, and Tk 150 crore for the 850 MHz band of CDMA technology.

However, the spectrum utilization charges differ per operator based on their subscriber bases. According to the draft, Grameenphone would have to pay BDT 55.04 in spectrum fees, followed by Robi which would pay BDT 30 billion, Banglalink which would pay BDT 29.94 billion, and Citycell would pay BDT 6.20 billion. The licence renewal fee for 15 years would be BDT 100 million.

Grameenphone chief corporate officer, Mahmud Hossain called the different spectrum utilization fees discriminatory and unfair. Furthermore, the government has failed to explain the exact method of calculation of the utilization fees.