Robi Axiata has raised concerns over the timing of the government’s planned 700MHz spectrum auction, saying the period ahead of the national election is not suitable for major investment decisions.
The concern was voiced at a press conference at the operator’s headquarters in the capital on Thursday, where Robi Axiata CEO Ziad Shatara said the company has no issue with the spectrum band itself but believes the timing of the auction could undermine investor confidence.
He said the auction, scheduled for January, would require operators to commit fresh investment at a time when the country is going through a political transition.
“An auction means investment, and this is not the right moment for that,” he said, adding that stronger momentum would have been possible in a post-election environment under a long-term government.
He said both local and foreign investors are closely watching the political process and are largely adopting a wait-and-see approach.
He expressed optimism that economic activity would pick up once the election is over and political stability is ensured.
The Robi Axiata CEO said the country’s second-largest mobile operator invested Tk2000 crore this year to improve service quality.
He said future investment decisions would depend on policy consistency and long-term certainty in the telecom sector.
Also speaking at the press conference, Robi Axiata Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Sahed Alam said the regulator should have reviewed the telecom guidelines issued in 2018 before making changes to licensing rules.
He said the telecom industry, unlike many other sectors, requires continuous high investment to remain competitive and therefore needs consistent and supportive policy.
“Inconsistencies between telecom policies and directives, along with frequent revisions, have increased investment risk,” he said.
He cited the recent 85 per cent cap on foreign ownership as an example, saying it could pose challenges for the sector.
He said the cap could have been applied only to new investors rather than operators that had invested based on the previous policy framework.
