The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revised its Quality of Service (QoS) standards, setting 10 Mbps as the minimum 4G download speed. This new benchmark is higher than the earlier 7 Mbps standard set in 2018, though lower than the 15 Mbps that was proposed in a draft published in January. At the same time, the minimum 4G upload speed has been fixed at 2 Mbps, down from the 4 Mbps earlier suggested.
The new framework was approved at last week’s BTRC commission meeting and announced by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser overseeing the telecom and ICT ministry. For the first time, these benchmarks will not only apply to mobile operators but also to internet service providers (ISPs) and National Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) operators, broadening accountability across the industry.
Read More: Bangladesh Bank Net Profit Jumps to Tk22,600 Crore in FY25
Alongside data standards, the revised policy sets stricter rules for voice services. Call setup success rates must be 99 percent nationwide and at least 98 percent at district and upazila levels. For 2G networks, call drop rates cannot exceed 1 percent nationally or 1.5 percent in upazilas. For 4G connections, operators must maintain at least 99 percent nationwide success and 98.5 percent at district level. Drive tests will be conducted to check compliance, with voice call setup success required to stay above 98 percent and call drops capped at 2 percent.
Read More: Bangladesh Attracts $1 Billion in Investment Proposals in Five Months
To ensure transparency, operators will now be required to submit mandatory monthly reports under three categories: accessibility, retainability, and network integrity. Any breach of these standards will be treated as an offence under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001, and may result in administrative fines.
According to Taiyeb, the revised policy aims to bring greater transparency and accountability to the sector. He noted that the mandatory reporting system would put pressure on operators to improve service quality, particularly in rural and suburban areas where complaints of weak coverage and frequent call drops remain widespread. By identifying weak coverage zones more effectively, regulators expect service problems to be addressed faster and more efficiently.