Weak indoor coverage and wobbly networks-often ending in dropped calls-have become a wearying norm for mobile phone users across the country, including in Dhaka.
Sources say Dhaka's population density ranks among the highest in the world. With a colossal number of mobile subscribers, the network infrastructure-cell towers and fiber backhaul-of Grameenphone, Robi Axiata PLC and Banglalink is struggling to keep pace, particularly during peak hours.
* 7,144 complaints lodged against mobile companies in 2022
* 10,564 complaints in 2023
* 11,408 complaints in 2024
* 9,258 complaints as of October 2025
Most of the operators may not have enough radio frequency spectrum-the "highway" for data-to handle the massive volume of traffic, leading to congestion and slow speeds.
Operators need to deploy more small cells and in-building solutions (IBS). This is costly and logistically difficult. Mobile phone operators also have no massive investment in fiber optic backhaul to connect towers and provide the necessary "pipe" for data, according to sources.
Subscribers of all major operators report the same experience, despite the "reliable 4G" and "5G-ready" claims in telecom marketing.
While 5G promises capacity, its rollout must be accompanied by the fiber backbone and dense small cell networks to be effective indoors. A rushed 5G launch without this could make the problem worse.
Pointing the finger at structural problems, mobile network operators say the dense skyline, issues about rooftop and indoor sites, and costly spectrum limit their service quality improvement. Meanwhile, data show that complaints filed with the telecom regulator have more than doubled since 2022, as the government has introduced standard performance benchmarks and is now considering penalties. Yet for many subscribers, the issue is immediate and personal.
"I don't get any mobile network once I enter my apartment," said Asiur Rahman of Baily Raid.
"We have to rely on messaging apps to make calls. Even during emergencies, calls don't go through or we don't receive them."
Rafiq Ahamd, who works at Gausia Market and uses both Robi and Banglalink SIMs, said neither works reliably indoors. "At home, Banglalink is almost off, and Robi's network often fails."
Near Dhaka University, Grameenphone user Abdur Rashid said she experiences two to three dropped calls a week. "Most of the time, I use WhatsApp for voice calls. Even that doesn't always work smoothly."
Sazal Ahamd, a Robi subscriber at Lalmatia, said his phone frequently switches from 4G to 2G during peak hours at both home and office.
"Recently, the problem has worsened," he said, rating Dhaka's overall service quality "highest six out of ten." Some users say they have to leave their rooms to speak on the phone.
Abdur Rahman, a Grameenphone subscriber, said he experiences call drops at least two to three times a week while moving around different parts of Dhaka.
Telecom analysts have time and again pointed out that Dhaka's dense high-rise environment and overloaded base stations can weaken indoor signals. But many users argue that today's problems go beyond typical urban challenges, and that they feel the networks are failing more often, not improving.
While operators talk about state-of-the-art networks, Dhakaites say they are still struggling to complete the most basic function of a mobile phone -- making a call.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) data also shows that the number of customer complaints is rising every year.
In 2022, the BTRC, through its toll-free short code 100, where customers can file complaints, received 7,144 complaints against mobile operators. The number increased to 10,564 in 2023, 11,408 in 2024, and 9,258 as of October 2025.
Operators frame the issue differently. Robi maintains that it has found no technical issues in the areas mentioned by users.
"Access to more low-band spectrum is also essential for better coverage, but current pricing makes procurement challenging. Additionally, indoor coverage is affected as larger operators are often unwilling to share their infrastructure," mobile operators sources said.
"We are continuously upgrading and modernising our network to bring state-of-the-art technology to Bangladesh and ensure world-class service for our customers," he said, adding that Banglalink is in ongoing discussions with the telecom regulator and other authorities concerned to resolve the issues.
According to the BTRC has begun nationwide drive tests, and many of the long-standing public complaints about mobile network quality have been reflected in the findings. It requires coordinated efforts from telecom operators, regulators, city planners, and even public cooperation. Until then, the daily dance of searching for signal bars and switching between SIMs remains a defining ritual of life in the capital.
