TowerCo leaders in Bangladesh called for urgent policy reform, resilient infrastructure, and unified collaboration at the Build Forward Forum 2025 to drive the country's digital future.
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| Bangladesh’s TowerCo sector emphasized regulatory reform, cross-sector collaboration, and infrastructure resilience as key to enabling a smarter, more connected digital economy. Photo: Supplied |
Dhaka, Bangladesh — 21 July 2025:
At the TowerCo Build Forward Forum 2025, held in Dhaka under the banner “Unifying TowerCo for a Smarter Bangladesh,” industry leaders called for sweeping policy reforms, enhanced infrastructure resilience, and deeper cross-sector collaboration to realize the country’s digital vision.
The forum brought together senior executives from the four licensed TowerCos in Bangladesh, alongside key policymakers and regulators. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Major General (Retd.) Md Emdad Ul Bari attended as Chief Guest, underscoring the government’s commitment to a robust, future-ready telecom ecosystem.
Speakers welcomed the BTRC’s new licensing framework and the proposed National Infrastructure and Connectivity Services Provider (NICSP) model, calling them progressive steps toward a more inclusive infrastructure landscape. However, they stressed the need for timely execution, especially around issues such as Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and In-Building Solutions (IBS)—critical for reliable indoor connectivity, where over 80% of mobile data traffic occurs.
“The telecom industry is the backbone of our digital economy,” said Chairman Emdad Ul Bari. “We are opening new doors through licensing reforms, focusing on regulatory clarity and setting performance benchmarks.”
TowerCo leaders also flagged persistent challenges—battery theft, long site acquisition cycles, and lack of co-location incentives—as major bottlenecks. They called for stronger public-private coordination, unified technical standards, and greener energy alternatives to support sustainable growth.
Sunil Issac, Country Managing Director of EDOTCO Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of “market certainty and policy predictability” in attracting long-term investment. Md Serajus Saleheen, CEO of Frontier Towers, highlighted the urgent need for “scalable, on-ground solutions” to shared industry pain points.
A key milestone of the event was the launch of the Bangladesh TowerCo Association, a unified platform for collective advocacy, knowledge sharing, and regulatory engagement. This alliance aims to support next-generation telecom initiatives including 5G, IoT, and Smart Cities.
“Our sector is ready to catalyze digital GDP growth,” said Md. Noor-A-Alam Siddiqi, CTO of Summit Towers Ltd. “But progress demands elimination of inefficiencies and a clear, supportive regulatory framework.”
Adding regional insights, Abdus Salam, Country Manager of Ericsson Bangladesh, and Gayan Koralage, Director of Strategy at EDOTCO Group, noted that Bangladesh still has significant untapped potential compared to its South and Southeast Asian counterparts—particularly in mobile technology, AI, and data infrastructure.
The event concluded with a joint commitment to foster an innovation-driven, investor-friendly TowerCo ecosystem capable of supporting a smarter, more connected Bangladesh.