Banglalink, the second leading mobile operator in the country in terms of subscribers, was finally awarded a 3G licence on Thursday evening after paying the remaining amount of its spectrum fee.
Earlier, the mobile operator had failed to get the 3G licence as it could not pay the full Tk5.25bn fee.
It had managed to pay Tk3.22bn and was given the No Objection Certificate (NOC) allowing importation of 3G equipment.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Acting Chairman Md Giashuddin Ahmed handed over the licence soon after the Banglalink authorities paid the remaining Tk2.03bn.
Banglalink Senior Director (regulatory & legal affairs) Zakiul Islam received the licence.
Earlier, on September 12, the BTRC issued 3G mobile service licences and NOCs for the importing of equipment to three other mobile phone operators.
Grameenphone – the leader in Bangladesh's mobile market – and Robi both made full payments on Monday and Tuesday according to the guidelines, while Airtel paid Tk5.25bn immediately after the licensing award ceremony.