Page 105 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Bangladesh to Auction 700 MHz Spectrum for 4G and 5G Expansion

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission However, challenges remain, including concerns about spectrum
(BTRC) is preparing to auction spectrum in the 700 MHz band this scarcity, pricing, and a pending legal dispute regarding a portion of
year. This initiative aims to support the expansion of 4G networks the 700 MHz band. The GSMA, a global organization representing
and facilitate the rollout of 5G services in the country. The 700 mobile operators, has raised concerns about the limited amount
MHz band is considered crucial for mobile broadband expansion, of spectrum available for auction, suggesting that it could lead to
especially in rural areas, due to its ability to provide wider coverage higher prices and fragmented assignments, potentially hindering
and better penetration compared to higher frequencies. The BTRC the effectiveness of 4G and 5G deployments. Despite these
recognizes the importance of allocating this spectrum to meet challenges, the BTRC is committed to completing the auction
the growing demand for mobile connectivity and improve service in 2025. This initiative aligns Bangladesh with global trends in
quality for users. To ensure a smooth auction process, the BTRC spectrum allocation and is expected to significantly enhance
has formed a committee to draft auction guidelines, determine the mobile broadband connectivity across the country.
base price for the spectrum, and engage with mobile operators.

Germany Commits Additional €870k to Offshore Launch Facility

Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport has Spaceport – Finding Solutions and Infrastructure Development
committed an additional €870,000 to support the development of for Orbital Launches” project, a joint venture between BMDV and
an offshore launch platform that will operate from the North Sea. GOSA. BMDV has committed €870,000 to the project, with the
The North Sea launch platform is being developed by the German distribution of funding managed by the German aerospace agency
Offshore Spaceport Alliance (GOSA), a joint venture formed in (DLR). The project’s primary aim is to develop a “holistic solution
December 2020 by Tractebel DOC Offshore, MediaMobil, OHB, for an offshore spaceport, primarily for commercial orbital and
and Harren Shipping Services. The platform will be constructed suborbital launches, by the end of September 2025.” The findings
on the 170-metre-long Combi Dock I vessel and will accommodate from the project will be incorporated into the development of
launchers with a mass of between 36 and 52 tonnes. A 2020 demonstrator systems that will “pave the way for the use of the
feasibility study stated that the development and operation of mobile infrastructure for the first launches.”
the North Sea launch platform would cost between €22 and €30
million over six years. In September 2023, the German government
committed an initial €2 million to the project. A month later, a
GOSA spokesperson told European Spaceflight that its first launch
from the North Sea was expected in April or May 2024. In April
2024, the company announced that it would support the launch
of four small rockets ranging from 15 to 52 kilograms from the
floating platform between 16 and 30 June. The launches were
postponed to July, after which no further updates were provided.
On 7 February 2025, the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs
and Transport (BMDV) announced the launch of the “Offshore

Bangladesh to Auction 700 MHz Spectrum for 4G and 5G Expansion

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission However, challenges remain, including concerns about spectrum
(BTRC) is preparing to auction spectrum in the 700 MHz band this scarcity, pricing, and a pending legal dispute regarding a portion of
year. This initiative aims to support the expansion of 4G networks the 700 MHz band. The GSMA, a global organization representing
and facilitate the rollout of 5G services in the country. The 700 mobile operators, has raised concerns about the limited amount
MHz band is considered crucial for mobile broadband expansion, of spectrum available for auction, suggesting that it could lead to
especially in rural areas, due to its ability to provide wider coverage higher prices and fragmented assignments, potentially hindering
and better penetration compared to higher frequencies. The BTRC the effectiveness of 4G and 5G deployments. Despite these
recognizes the importance of allocating this spectrum to meet challenges, the BTRC is committed to completing the auction
the growing demand for mobile connectivity and improve service in 2025. This initiative aligns Bangladesh with global trends in
quality for users. To ensure a smooth auction process, the BTRC spectrum allocation and is expected to significantly enhance
has formed a committee to draft auction guidelines, determine the mobile broadband connectivity across the country.
base price for the spectrum, and engage with mobile operators.
105 JAN-FEB 2025