The telecom regulator has cancelled the unused spectrum of state-owned Bangladesh Television in the 2,000-megahertz band as it was disrupting the 3G services of mobile operators.
The 2,000MHz band was allocated to mobile operators to roll out 3G services through an auction last year, but some frequency (around 5 MHz) of BTV in the same band was disrupting the 3G services, said an official of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
In September last year, BTRC allocated frequency to five mobile operators–Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel and Teletalk—in the 2,000MHz, popularly referred to as 2,100MHz, after an open auction.
Md Sarwar Alam, director of media and public relations of BTRC, said BTV uses optical fibre cables for its connectivity and it was not using the frequency; so the commission cancelled it.
Moreover, the 2,000 MHz or 2,100 MHz band is globally allocated for mobile technology in line with the policy of International Telecommunication Union, a UN body of telecoms.
Although BTV was not using the frequency from 2008, its related equipment (radio) was active; so, it was disrupting the 3G services mainly of Robi in Dhaka and Chittagong areas, according to a document of a BTRC meeting last month.
Earlier, the spectrum management committee, a government panel looking after frequency allocations and cancellations, decided to withdraw the frequency and made recommendations to BTRC.