The telecom regulator has decided to defer again the 3G spectrum auction by three more weeks.
This is for the fourth time Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission rescheduled the auction process.
BTRC took the decision Sunday, but would announce the fresh schedule on Wednesday, officials confirmed.
The mobile phone operators for sublimating application of 3G mobile spectrum auction as they have decided to re-fixed the dateline for it, sourced said on Sunday.
As per the fresh schedule, mobile phone operators would now get until August 1, which was earlier on July 10, to submit application for participating in the auction. There is, however, no change in the auction date which is September 2.
BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose made the decision before his leaving Dhaka Sunday evening for Poland on a week-long visit, a senior official told the Dhaka Tribune, requesting anonymity.
Earlier on June 27, Finance Minister AMA Muhith at a meeting advised the regulator to re-fix some dates form the existing deadline, without changing the auction date on September 2.
Sources said, according to the new decision, the date for publishing eligible firms shifted to August 5 from July 18 while consultation on auction procedure goes from June 29 to August 12. Operators would now deposit the earnest money before August 19, which was earlier August 4. BTRC can accept or reject any application on August 25.
According to the guidelines, the regulator will award three licenses to the bid winners from among five existing operators and a new one.
The regulator will offer a 5-Megahertz (MHz) slot for spectrum in 2100 band, the floor price of per Mega Hertz spectrum has been fixed at US$20m.
According to the guideline, 60% of the total price of spectrum assignment has to be paid in the first installment within 60 days of auction and the remaining 40% in the second installment by 180 days.