The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has set the minimum download speed for 4G services at 10 Mbps, in a significant move aimed at improving telecom service quality across the country.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, shared the update in a Facebook post on Sunday. He said the decision was made following expert consultations and was approved at last week’s BTRC meeting.
The new Quality of Service (QoS) policy will take effect from September, with BTRC conducting monthly network performance and health assessments based on the previous month’s data.
“This is the first time Bangladesh is introducing such standards, aligning with international best practices to ensure service quality,” Faiz wrote.
Key highlights of the revised QoS framework:
Minimum 4G download speed: 10 Mbps
4G upload speed: At least 2 Mbps
4G data connection success rate: 99% at network level, 98.5% at district level
Call setup success rate: 99% at network level, 98% at district and sub-district levels
Call drop rate: Max 1% for 2G, 1.5% at sub-district level
Average user download speed: Minimum 3.5 Mbps at network level, 2.5 Mbps at district level
Drive test voice metrics: Call setup success ≥ 98%, call drop < 2%, VoLTE experience index ≥ 3.5
Operator accountability and reporting:
Under the new policy, operators must:
Submit monthly reports on key performance indicators (KPIs) categorised into accessibility, retainability, and network integrity.
Ensure customer complaint resolution within 28 days for non-network issues.
Ensure 90% of customer service calls are answered within 40 seconds, and all within 90 seconds.
BTRC will also maintain a list of the 50 worst-performing cells in terms of accessibility and retainability, adding pressure on operators to improve especially in rural and suburban areas, where complaints about poor service and call drops are most common.
Taiyeb noted that Bangladesh’s telecom providers have historically underinvested in 4G infrastructure, resulting in declining service quality. The new licensing obligations and updated QoS benchmarks are intended to reverse that trend by enhancing accountability.
The revised policy also extends to fixed internet, telephony services, and non-terrestrial network (NTN) operators, reflecting a broader push to ensure consistent digital service standards nationwide.
Updated official guidelines are expected to be published soon.
SR
