Bangladesh TowerCo Association launched to drive policy reform and collaboration

Bangladesh's four licensed tower companies have officially launched the Bangladesh TowerCo Association, a unified platform aimed at strengthening industry coordination, policy advocacy, and regulatory engagement.

The launch took place at the TowerCo Build Forward Forum 2025, held under the theme "Unifying TowerCo for a Smarter Bangladesh." The event brought together infrastructure leaders to outline shared priorities for building a more resilient, efficient, and future-ready telecom ecosystem.

Participants welcomed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's (BTRC) proposed National Infrastructure and Connectivity Services Provider (NICSP) framework as a progressive step, while stressing the urgency of effective implementation.

Speakers pointed to persistent barriers, including energy theft, site acquisition delays, and limited indoor coverage infrastructure such as DAS and IBS. Without clear policy execution and unified action, they warned, these issues could stall progress toward full digital inclusion.

BTRC Calls for Transparency and KPI-Driven Reform

BTRC Chairman Major General (Retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari, attending as Chief Guest, emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing the digital economy.

"We are opening new doors for business while ensuring transparency through our 2025 reform policy," he said. "Setting and monitoring KPIs of existing players is our utmost priority."

TowerCo leaders echoed his remarks, noting that regulatory clarity and ecosystem alignment are essential to attracting long-term investment. EDOTCO Bangladesh's Country Managing Director, Sunil Issac, stated that such alignment could reduce the cost of digital access and accelerate national coverage.

The CEOs of Frontier Towers and Summit Towers called for faster permitting, reliable energy solutions, and better co-location incentives to support shared infrastructure growth.

Regional Insights and a Pledge for Reform

Industry strategists from Ericsson Bangladesh and EDOTCO Group highlighted Bangladesh's untapped potential in 5G, AI, and smart infrastructure. Compared to its regional peers, they said, the country could see significant economic gains through better telecom planning.

With digital services expanding rapidly, they emphasised that innovation, automation, and strategic infrastructure sharing will be key to cost-effective, sustainable growth.

The forum concluded with a joint commitment from industry stakeholders to build a reform-oriented, investor-friendly, and innovation-driven tower ecosystem capable of powering Bangladesh's digital future