Dhaka, Nov. 12 -- The country's three leading mobile operators -- Grameenphone, Robi Axiata and Banglalink -- have jointly urged the telecom regulator to revise the terms of the forthcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction, warning that the current framework could discourage investment and impede efforts to expand mobile coverage in rural and underserved areas.

In a joint letter submitted to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) recently, the operators said the 700 MHz band is globally recognised as a critical low-frequency spectrum for wide-area coverage and indoor penetration, but the proposed auction design and pricing make it commercially unviable.

They noted that although the National Spectrum Roadmap 2024 allocates...