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Bangladesh is set to overhaul its telecommunications licensing system by moving away from a licence-centric framework towards a technology-neutral, service-oriented and risk-based authorisation regime.
The proposed Draft Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy 2026 would introduce a simplified system under which telecom and digital services would be regulated according to their actual functions and associated risks rather than requiring broad licences for all activities.
The draft policy establishes four basic forms of authorisation — Licence, Enlistment, Notification and no sector-specific authorisation — alongside Function-Specific Authorisations for sensitive activities.
Under the proposed framework, low-risk services such as software, applications, call centres, business process outsourcing, hosting and enterprise services would not automatically require a full telecom network licence. Instead, the level of regulatory oversight would depend on the nature and risk of the service.
The draft also proposes replacing the existing National Infrastructure and Connectivity Service Provider (NICSP) category with a Tower and Connectivity Service Provider (TCSP) framework. TCSPs would be able to operate through endorsements covering transmission and fibre, tower and neutral-host infrastructure, and exchange and interconnection functions.
Another major change is the introduction of the Telecom-Enabled Service Provider (TESP) framework. Software and application providers, call centres, BPOs, hosting companies, SMS aggregators, communications platforms and managed IoT services could be brought under different regulatory requirements based on their risk levels.
The draft also formally recognises Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), allowing them to provide mobile services using the network and spectrum of a host cellular mobile service provider. It also creates regulatory pathways for private and enterprise networks, network slicing and spectrum sharing.
Spectrum management would be separated from service licensing under the proposed framework. Spectrum would be treated as a scarce national resource, with assignments specifying factors including geographical coverage, duration, fees, rollout obligations, sharing, leasing, trading, refarming and renewal conditions.
The draft calls for a spectrum roadmap, periodic utilisation audits and greater consideration of investment, affordability, competition and market structure when determining spectrum prices and other charges. However, it does not set a final spectrum floor-price formula.
The proposed policy would also broaden the regulatory framework for satellite connectivity, including satellite broadband, VSAT, earth stations, maritime and aviation connectivity and direct-to-device services.
At the same time, the draft encourages investment in data centres, cloud computing, content delivery networks, edge infrastructure and sovereign computing. BTRC could establish regulatory sandboxes for emerging technologies such as IoT, private networks, AI-assisted network management and quantum-safe communications.
The policy also seeks to strengthen consumer protection by requiring service providers to disclose tariffs, taxes, speeds, usage limits, contract terms, renewal and termination conditions and compensation arrangements before activation.
The draft is not yet a final gazetted policy. Its ultimate impact will depend on the final Gazette notification, subsequent regulatory guidelines and implementation by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.