The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is finalizing comprehensive guidelines for telecom infrastructure sharing. The guidelines aim to reduce duplicate infrastructure, lower operators’ costs, and better use existing networks. 

The draft guidelines, released on Thursday, reflect years of deliberation and are expected to bring significant economic benefits and operational efficiencies to the sector.

The primary objectives of the new guidelines include cost reduction, improved economies of scale and foreign currency savings.

Stakeholders have until June 2 to provide feedback on the draft guidelines, which will then be finalized.

Key provisions of the draft guidelines

Scope of infrastructure sharing:

The guidelines primarily focus on horizontal sharing, meaning sharing infrastructure within the same category of license holders.

Future provisions may allow for sharing between different categories of license holders.

Principles of sharing

Infrastructure must be shared in a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory, and “first come, first serve” manner.

Operators are required to comply with these principles to ensure equitable access.

Revision of existing agreements

Existing infrastructure-sharing agreements must be revised to comply with the new guidelines within 90 days of publication.

Revised agreements must be submitted to the BTRC within 15 days of signing.

Types of infrastructure covered

The scope includes network elements such as ducts, poles, towers, masts, dark fibre (unused fibre-optic cable), and frequency spectrum.