United News of Bangladesh

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) has voiced support for the government’s proposed Telecommunications Network and Licensing Reform Policy 2025, terming it a “bold and necessary step” towards overhauling the country’s outdated telecom regulatory framework. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the industry body acknowledged recent media discussions surrounding the draft policy and called for a clearer, fact-based understanding of the reforms. “While we appreciate the concerns raised by stakeholders, we believe it is critical to present a clearer, fact-based perspective regarding the proposed reform,” said AMTOB. Refuting claims that the draft favours foreign companies or mobile operators, AMTOB said that the proposed policy does not offer any undue advantage to either group. In fact, it continues to curtail the operational scope of mobile operators, who are at the frontline of delivering telecom and digital services to consumers across the country, it said. Budget is realistic and frugal: Planning Adviser Citing legacy issues stemming from the 2007 International Long Distance Telecommunication Services (ILDTS) Policy, AMTOB criticised the sector’s fragmentation, which introduced multiple intermediary entities such as IGWs, IIGs, ICXs, and NTTNs. These entities, according to AMTOB, add minimal value to service delivery while inflating costs and creating inefficiencies. Despite these limitations, the association welcomed the government's intent, describing the new policy structure which proposes dividing the licensing regime into International Connectivity Services, National Infrastructure Connectivity Services, and Access Network Services as a marked improvement over the current model. The association argued that, in most countries, mobile operators are granted the autonomy to manage end-to-end infrastructure, resulting in more affordable and higher-quality services for consumers. In contrast, Bangladesh’s heavily segmented licensing regime continues to stifle sectoral growth and compromise user experience. “Reform in the telecom sector is not just an industry imperative — it is a national interest,” AMTOB stressed, adding that a modern, competitive telecom ecosystem is vital to achieving a digitally advanced economy and supporting national socio-economic goals. “While the current reform proposal is not the final solution, it sets the right tone,” the statement said.

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) has picked Banglalink Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Erik Aas, as its president until March next year. The association's virtual board meeting took place Wednesday. The meeting also welcomed Robi Acting CEO and Chief Financial Officer Riyaaz Rasheed as a director of the board and thanked AMTOB's outgoing President Mahtab Uddin Ahmed who earlier decided to part with Robi. Read: AMTOB calls for revision of SD in mobile services "The telecommunications industry is a key contributor to the digitalisation and development of the country's overall infrastructure. AMTOB will continue working with the government, regulators, policy-makers and many other stakeholders to ensure further developments of the country and our industry," AMTOB President Erik said. "AMTOB, as a collective voice of the telecommunications industry, plays a pivotal role for the greater interest of the industry and citizens' digitalisation needs. I hope and believe, together with the regulators, we will be able to address prevailing challenges and contribute to accelerating our journey towards a digitally empowered Bangladesh," AMTOB Vice-President Yasir Azman said.4 Read: Telecom services heavily disrupted by Amphan: AMTOB AMTOB is a national trade association representing all mobile telecom operators of Bangladesh, including Banglalink, Citycell, Grameenphone, Robi and Teletalk. The five mobile network operators are the general members of the association, and mobile network solution providers Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia are its associate members.

Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) recently elected Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, Managing Director and CEO of Robi as its new president for the next 2 years.