The government is taking preparation to invite unused 1800MHz and 2100 MHz band spectrum auction soon before completion of the much talk merger between Robi Axiata and Airtel Bangladesh, sources said.
The Posts and Telecommunications division has taken the decision recently.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) deferred the unused spectrum auction twice in April and May.
Requesting anonymity, a top official of Robi told the Dhaka Tribune that it will be tough to invite bid for the unused spectrum before Robi-Airtel merger as lot of issues are yet setllted.
The government should not hurry for arranging the spectrum auction as the issue is very important, he said.
Besides, Malaysian company Robi Axiata is yet to submit the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for employees to the BTRC as a major component on merger process, said sources in the Post and Telecommunication Division.
The BTRC is now conducting analysis on impact on social aspect, spectrum management, customer services and job market on allowing merger process taking experts from the Business Studies faculty of Dhaka University and the Engineering faculty of American International University of Bangladesh.
Employees of both Robi and Airtel are worried over their jobs as the procedure of merger of the two leading mobile operators is under progress. They are also feared over the benefits that the probable job losers might be offered under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).
Robi Axiata Limited and Airtel Bangladesh Ltd had been asked to submit nine types of documents like spectrum merger scheme and detailed voluntary retirement scheme etc. But, they are yet to submit it.
The commission asked to resubmit spectrum merger and numbering amalgamation schemes, it added.
It also asked to produce the services merger scheme and the specific plan of each company for protection of jobs of all the employees with the VRS of Airtel for all the employees who are not interested to join the proposed merger.