A regulatory tussle between the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has stalled a long-overdue plan to upgrade telecom infrastructure at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), exposing deeper flaws in inter-agency coordination and the country’s readiness to deliver global-standard services.
CAAB, tasked with modernizing the new Terminal 3 of the airport, says it cannot proceed with installing a central communication network due to what it calls regulatory inconsistencies and lobbying by mobile operators.
The proposed system would include support for mobile telecommunications and a secure private communication network for aviation operations—ensuring uninterrupted coverage for passengers, including diplomats, VIPs, foreign delegates and international business travelers.
The dispute centers on CAAB’s plan to implement a neutral-host Distributed Antenna System (DAS), a globally recognized model that allows a single infrastructure to support all mobile network operators.
CAAB argues this system will eliminate the need for four competing installations, reduce operational disruption and significantly raise service standards.
“We’re not trying to own spectrum or run telecom services,” said immediate former CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan.
“Our goal is to create a neutral infrastructure that carries mobile signals efficiently and securely for all operators, without bias", said Monjur Kabir, citing examples from Changi Airport in Singapore and John F Kennedy International Airport in the US, CAAB insists Bangladesh must follow global best practices to remain competitive and meet the expectations of international travelers.
The aviation authority maintains that previous attempts to expand mobile coverage inside HSIA led to repeated service interruptions and security breaches, as each operator carried out their own installations.
Terminal 1 and 2, constructed before mobile telephone use took hold in Bangladesh, experienced logistical and maintenance issues when multiple operators attempted to build separate networks.
CAAB now wants to avoid repeating that scenario at Terminal 3, particularly given the presence of sensitive areas designated as “No Man’s Land” under IATA guidelines, where unauthorized access poses serious security risks.
Yet AMTOB, the umbrella organization representing mobile operators including Robi, Grameenphone, Banglalink and Teletalk, insists that only licensed mobile network operators (MNOs) are permitted to install or operate wireless systems, citing provisions in the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act.
On the other hand, officials at CAAB and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism (MOCAT) have dismissed this interpretation as legally flawed, pointing out that mobile operators regularly outsource technical operations to foreign vendors such as Huawei and Ericsson.
“If they can hire private firms to build and manage their networks, why can’t CAAB engage a third party to manage a neutral system within its own facility?” a CAAB official asked.
CAAB further accuses BTRC of a double standard.
According to CAAB officials, BTRC previously authorized third-party entities, such as Towercos, to build DAS systems with regulatory approval.
Yet now, the commission appears to be siding with AMTOB, insisting that only MNOs can perform this role.
“We have documentation showing BTRC’s earlier position,” said a CAAB official, adding: “If Towercos and Huawei can receive a no-objection certificate (NOC), then why not CAAB?”
When asked to clarify the discrepancy, BTRC Chairman Engineer Md Emdadul Haque reiterated that all parties must follow legal procedures but refused to comment on past communications.
What’s at stake is more than just telecom hardware.
Without a single, coordinated system, passengers face patchy mobile coverage, high costs and reduced access to essential services such as international roaming and mobile data.
In a global era of connected travel, HSIA risks falling behind regional hubs.
“This is not just about calls—it’s about the image, functionality and competitiveness of our primary airport,” said another CAAB official.
The current situation, they argue, highlights a regulatory vacuum in Bangladesh’s telecom and infrastructure ecosystem—where no agency has clear authority to implement cross-sector projects that touch on both connectivity and national infrastructure.
Experts echo this concern.
Zahidul Islam, a telecom infrastructure specialist, said CAAB’s model is technically sound and aligned with international norms.
“Neutral-host systems are the global standard for airports. There is no reason why HSIA should be any different,” he noted.
He called for immediate coordination between CAAB and BTRC.
He added: “The delay reflects poor governance more than technical hurdles. This is about whether we can deliver on a national vision for infrastructure.”
CAAB insists it is ready to proceed.
It wants to hire a vetted international firm to build and manage the DAS network using only BTRC-approved equipment.
While the neutral-host model is not formally codified in Bangladeshi regulation, there is no law barring it and many countries, including Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore, have used this framework successfully, said CAAB.
For now, however, Terminal 3’s high-tech promise remains stuck in limbo.
With millions invested and expectations high, the question is no longer whether the upgrade is needed, but whether Bangladesh can get its institutions to work together long enough to deliver it.