The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has published amended draft guidelines on telecommunication infrastructure sharing, with provisions for ensuring quality of service, maintaining technical standards and shared lawful interception systems for monitoring communications.
The telecommunication regulator on Wednesday also invited public opinions within December 18 for the amended guideline, titled 鈥楾elecommunication Infrastructure Sharing,鈥� before finalising it.
The draft guideline aims to improve service quality, reduce costs and expand digital connectivity across the country.
The updated guidelines outline the sharing of both active and passive infrastructure among licenced operators.
Experts said that the initiative might minimise infrastructure duplication, lower operational expenses and facilitate the rollout of advanced technologies.
The guideline said that operators must enter into agreements vetted by the BTRC, with provisions for ensuring quality of service and maintaining technical standards. Infrastructure sharing is restricted to licenced operators, although sharing with other entities is possible with prior approval.
Operators are required to ensure that data privacy and security are not compromised, according to the draft.
Additionally, lawful interception or LI systems, used for monitoring communications, may be implemented with the commission鈥檚 approval, provided no security risks arise.
The BTRC has also authorised itself to inspect shared infrastructure, review records and maintain oversight.
Operators must submit quarterly reports on their carbon footprint and use environment-friendly, energy-efficient equipment.
The guidelines aim to reduce the costs of deploying telecom services, particularly in challenging areas such as rural and remote regions. This approach is expected to make advanced technologies more accessible and improve the quality of service nationwide.
The measures also seek to eliminate unnecessary duplication of infrastructure, such as mobile towers, and ensure optimal land usage. Operators are encouraged to adopt designs that accommodate future sharing requirements, potentially easing the integration of new technologies.
The guideline requires operators to use energy-efficient equipment and limit radiation emissions to thresholds defined by the BTRC.
The BTRC retains the authority to amend the guidelines as needed and issue directives to address emerging challenges.
