Mobile operators have fallen short of meeting the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) standards, according to the latest drive test results. The tests, conducted between February 14 and June 5, spanned Dhaka, Narayanganj, Keraniganj, and Savar upazilas, using a state-of-the-art system recently acquired by the BTRC from Germany for 1.5 million euros. These findings reflect widespread concerns from users about subpar service quality.
The drive test results showed a significant number of missed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by all four major telecom operators—Robi, Grameenphone, Banglalink, and Teletalk. Abu Nazam M Tanveer Hossain, a telecom sector expert, pointed out that maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) is a crucial aspect of telecom licensing. He noted, "Since 2011, licensees have negotiated these standards, and the recent report—if accurate—indicates a significant failure to uphold the commitments made when accepting these licenses."
### Performance Breakdown
Among the operators, **Robi** performed the best, failing in only five out of 40 KPIs across four key areas. As of August, Robi serves 58 million customers.
Grameenphone, the market leader with 85 million subscribers, failed in six KPIs, while Banglalink missed 14, and Teletalk struggled the most, failing in a staggering 26 KPIs, according to the test results.
In terms of internet services, only **Teletalk** failed to meet the BTRC's benchmarks, with **Robi** performing the best among all operators.
In **Dhaka**, **Banglalink**—with 42 million customers—had the worst performance among the private telecom operators, failing to meet five of the 10 KPIs. For instance, **Banglalink's** call drop rate exceeded the BTRC's acceptable limit of 2%, registering at 2.59%. In **Keraniganj**, all operators had call drop rates above the 2% threshold for 2G voice calls, with **Banglalink** again recording the worst rate at 4.25%.
When it came to **4G voice calls**, **Banglalink** was the only operator to pass the test in Keraniganj, while **Robi** had the worst performance with a 3.98% call drop rate. Moreover, in **Savar**, none of the operators met the BTRC's call setup time requirement of 7 seconds for 2G calls.
For the **call setup success ratio** (which should be at least 97%), all operators except **Grameenphone** failed in **Keraniganj**. In **Dhaka** and **Narayanganj**, only **Robi** met the required success ratio for 2G calls.
### Underutilized Spectrum: A Key Issue
One of the main reasons for the poor performance is the underutilization of the higher-frequency spectrum bands by the telecom operators. These bands, assigned to operators in March 2022, provide better bandwidth but require more base stations for effective coverage. However, operators continue to rely heavily on the lower frequency bands, which offer wider coverage but lower transmission capacity.
For example, **Banglalink**, which purchased 40 MHz in the 2,300 MHz band, has deployed it on just 7.07% of its sites. Meanwhile, **Grameenphone** and **Robi**, which acquired 60 MHz in the 2,600 MHz band, have deployed it on just 11.92% and 17.76% of their sites, respectively. This underutilization is limiting the operators' ability to provide optimal service, leading to poor signal quality, frequent call drops, and mute calls for customers.
### Industry Response and Future Plans
Despite the unsatisfactory drive test results, operators have disputed the findings, claiming that their own tests show different results. **Robi** and **Banglalink** expressed concerns over the discrepancies between the BTRC's drive test data and their internal measurements, which they say were conducted using the same parameters. **Shahed Alam**, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer at Robi, stated that the BTRC's results "do not depict the correct picture" and could lead to confusion. He added that Robi plans to roll out the 2,600 MHz band on 35% of its sites this year and will continue deploying it based on traffic forecasts and network demands.
**Taimur Rahman**, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer at **Banglalink**, echoed similar concerns, stating that the operator is "fully utilizing the 2,300 MHz band" and that the BTRC's results do not reflect its actual network performance.
The **Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB)**, along with the BTRC and drive test vendors, is currently working on a unified methodology for measuring KPIs, as significant differences have been observed between the operators' results and the BTRC's findings.
**Grameenphone** also addressed the issue of spectrum deployment, explaining that the 60 MHz acquired in the 2,600 MHz band was meant to enhance capacity based on traffic and QoS demands. The company emphasized that it continuously monitors traffic demand in real-time and adjusts its capacity and spectrum deployment accordingly.
### BTRC's Role and the Way Forward
Following the drive test results, **Emdad Ul Bari**, the newly appointed Chairman of the BTRC, acknowledged the need for further discussions with telecom operators to address QoS issues. Bari mentioned that a consultation with the industry would take place on October 10 to discuss the findings and find ways to improve service quality.
**Ghulam Rahman**, president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, emphasized that the BTRC must ensure satisfactory services and fair tariffs for users, especially in light of the operators' ongoing struggles with core telecom services.
The poor drive test results present a setback for telecom operators, especially as they aim to transition into digital service providers offering additional services like payments and OTT platforms. The challenge remains: Can they improve their fundamental telecom services while expanding into these digital sectors? Only time will tell.
