Bangladesh Turns On 5G as Device Shortage Limits Uptake

A limited start for a big upgrade

Bangladesh switched on 5G on 1 September 2025, with Robi Axiata and Grameenphone lighting up select zones in major cities. The commercial debut marks a long anticipated step for the country’s telecom sector. The early impact will be modest, operators and industry officials say, because only a small share of phones in use today can connect to the new network.

Regulator data and industry estimates illustrate the device gap. Local factories produced about 1.70 lakh 5G enabled handsets during the first seven months of 2025, just 1.29 percent of total output. Feature phones still dominate domestic production at roughly 82 lakh units, or 62.28 percent, while 4G smartphones account for over 48 lakh units, or 36.65 percent. Across the installed base, around 62 percent of active devices nationwide are smartphones, mostly 4G. Only about 6.6 percent are 5G ready, a share that limits how many customers can see a benefit on day one even where coverage is available.

Imported and expatriate gifted phones represent roughly 40 percent of Bangladesh’s smartphone market. Many of those devices are high end and 5G capable, though a sizable portion are refurbished models. Operators expect 5G adoption to build gradually as more compatible handsets arrive and prices fall. Robi estimates that it could take five to seven years for 5G usage to reach today’s 4G levels, a timeline shaped by affordability, supply chain shifts, and network build out.

Where 5G is live and who can connect

Robi activated 5G sites in Dhaka’s Fakirapul and Moghbazar Chowrasta, parts of Dhaka University, Khulshi in Chattogram, and Sagor Dighir Par in Sylhet. The company targets more than 200 live 5G sites by the end of this year and around 1,000 by the end of 2026, focusing on neighborhoods where many users already have 5G phones. Grameenphone announced 5G availability in select areas across all eight divisional headquarters, including Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna. Coverage is intentionally limited at launch and is expected to expand in phases.

How to check and activate on your phone

Most customers do not need a new SIM card. A 4G SIM works on 5G networks so long as the phone supports 5G bands used by the operator and the device model appears on the operator’s approved list. There is no separate 5G fee at launch, and usage counts against existing data packs. Users need to be inside a 5G coverage zone, run the latest software, enable 5G in settings, and restart the device if needed. A 5G icon near the signal bar confirms activation.

• Android: confirm the model is approved, update to the latest software, go to Settings then Mobile Network or Connections, choose Network Mode and select 5G Auto or 5G On, then restart the phone.
• iPhone: ensure the model is approved, update to the latest iOS, go to Settings then Mobile Data then Mobile Data Options then Voice and Data, pick 5G Auto or 5G On, and under Data Mode choose Standard or Allow More Data on 5G, then restart the device.

The device crunch inside the handset market

The headlines mask a structural hurdle. Bangladesh’s handset ecosystem remains weighted toward feature phones and 4G smartphones that are not 5G capable. A separate market view points to only a small fraction of new phone shipments being 5G ready, while overall smartphone adoption is projected to reach about 63 percent of users in 2025, up from the prior year. Price sensitivity is high, and many buyers will continue to opt for 4G models until 5G devices become more affordable.

The grey market shapes this picture too. Phones brought in outside official channels can be cheaper, yet they often bypass taxes and quality controls and may not always support the exact frequency bands or software builds operators use. That undermines local assembly lines that have invested to produce approved models, and it complicates network optimization when devices do not behave as expected on 5G.

Rizwanul Haque, vice president of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh and CEO of Ismartu Technology BD, said the industry is adjusting but faces headwinds from illicit channels.

The supply chain is gradually shifting towards 5G, but the grey market is undermining local production. If illicit imports are curtailed, local manufacturers will be better placed to meet the growing demand.

He added that Tecno, which Ismartu manufactures in Bangladesh, plans to launch three 5G models to help widen choice in the mid price tiers. The mix of models available domestically and the price points at which they arrive will influence how quickly consumers can upgrade and how many of them will connect to the new network in the next few years.

Operator strategies and timelines

Robi and Grameenphone are taking different routes to roughly the same destination. Robi says that real device penetration varies considerably by neighborhood and that it will go first where enough compatible phones are already switched on. The company reports that in about 200 areas it tracks, between 12 percent and 15 percent of active devices are 5G capable, and in another 120 areas the share is close to 20 percent. Concentrating new 5G sites in such pockets can lift early adoption without stranding capacity where users cannot connect yet.

Shahed Alam, Robi’s chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer, described the early focus and expected migration path for customers.

Our initial focus will be rolling out 5G to these areas. And a positive trend is that users who currently use 4G are most likely to migrate to 5G. Currently, most imported and gifted handsets from abroad that get registered on our network work well on 5G.

Robi plans to scale coverage through the end of 2026 while keeping a close eye on device trends. Grameenphone opted for a footprint across all eight divisional cities from day one, then deepen coverage zone by zone. Both operators agree that the adoption curve will be gradual and that it could take five to seven years before 5G usage resembles today’s 4G engagement.

Spectrum, regulation, and the plan to refarm airwaves

The government laid important groundwork in March 2022, when operators acquired 190 MHz of spectrum across the 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands for roughly 1.23 billion dollars. Those mid band frequencies are useful for delivering high capacity and strong speeds in urban zones. Since then, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has issued unified licenses that make operations more technology agnostic, simplify renewals, and encourage resource sharing. This framework lets operators upgrade networks across generations more easily and aligns with the country’s Smart Bangladesh vision.

Progress has also encountered challenges. Industry sources have long pointed to slow guidance for 5G execution and to higher rollout costs in a price conscious market. At a Robi event during launch week, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, said use cases remain underdeveloped and encouraged closer cooperation between government, regulator, and industry. He also said the regulator plans to release 700 MHz spectrum, with more under consideration in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz ranges, and suggested a phased switch off of 2G and 3G to free airwaves for 4G and 5G.

Low band spectrum such as 700 MHz travels farther and penetrates buildings better than mid band. That can extend coverage to suburban and rural areas and improve indoor signal quality. Over time, refarming older bands and adding low band 5G would help balance speed and reach, especially outside dense city cores.

Prices, awareness, and why early 5G may feel like fast 4G

Consumers who do get a 5G signal should notice quicker downloads and more responsive apps, especially in places where operators have clean mid band spectrum and modern radio gear. International benchmarks show median 5G speeds in the hundreds of megabits per second in well built networks, along with lower latency that improves video calls, cloud gaming, and interactive apps. Early 5G deployments in many markets run on top of a 4G core, a setup known as non standalone. In those cases, performance can sometimes resemble a very strong 4G connection depending on local conditions. As operators add more 5G spectrum and shift to standalone 5G cores, networks gain features such as network slicing and tighter latency control that matter for industry and public services.

For now, operators say there is no extra fee to use 5G and a 4G SIM is enough. Some users will see higher data usage as speeds increase, so plan selection still matters. Devices should be updated to the latest software and set to 5G Auto or 5G On to receive the signal. Awareness campaigns and clear device lists can help buyers avoid disappointments if an imported model lacks local band support or operator certification.

Bangladesh in regional and global context

Globally, 5G is spreading quickly. Industry research counts roughly 2.4 billion 5G subscriptions worldwide in the first quarter of 2025, with a projection close to 2.9 billion by the end of the year. The United States has national 5G coverage anchored by large mid band holdings, which has pushed typical speeds higher. China reports millions of 5G base stations and is moving toward 5G Advanced. South Korea remains a leader in both infrastructure and usage as one of the earliest adopters.

Across South Asia, India launched commercial 5G in October 2022 and by March 2025 counted around 250 million active 5G users and roughly 469,000 base stations, one of the fastest scale ups globally. Bangladesh’s starting point is different. A recent review of the mobile economy shows Bangladesh lagging regional peers on smartphone ownership and mobile internet adoption, with device affordability and digital skills cited as key constraints. Analysts expect limited 5G coverage in the near term, which underscores why operators are concentrating upgrades in pockets with higher shares of 5G devices. Matching India’s velocity would require a bigger base of affordable 5G phones, sustained spectrum supply, and faster site deployment.

What it could unlock for industry and public services

5G is designed to deliver much more capacity, higher typical speeds, and lower latency than 4G. Those capabilities support more than streaming and gaming. Dedicated network slices can prioritize critical traffic for factories, ports, and utilities. Private 5G can give large campuses and industrial parks predictable performance for automation, sensors, and autonomous vehicles. The combination of high bandwidth and low latency can improve telemedicine links, remote classrooms, smart transport systems, and emergency response communications.

Realizing that potential takes time and investment. Enterprises need compatible equipment and a clear business case. Operators need a standalone 5G core, a richer device ecosystem, and service packages tailored to industry needs. Government can help by streamlining permits, opening access to public infrastructure for small cells, and advancing standard frameworks for security and data protection. The unified license regime and potential release of low band spectrum are steps that can support this maturation, along with pilot projects that align with national priorities in health, education, logistics, and manufacturing.

What to expect next

In the coming months, users can expect steady but selective expansion of 5G zones in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other divisional cities. Operators will keep adding approved device models as vendors push software updates. Robi plans to reach more than 200 sites this year, then scale toward 1,000 by the end of 2026, while Grameenphone will work to fill in coverage gaps across the cities it listed at launch. If the regulator releases 700 MHz and progresses with refarming lower bands, indoor and suburban coverage should improve.

On the device side, local assemblers and brands say new 5G models are coming, including more mid range options. A firmer stance against illicit imports could strengthen local manufacturing economics and make it easier for operators to certify and optimize devices. Financing plans, installment offers, and trade in programs may also help move buyers from 4G to 5G. Even with these tailwinds, the share of 5G capable phones is likely to rise gradually, which is why operators expect adoption to build over five to seven years rather than in a quick surge.

Key Points

• Robi Axiata and Grameenphone launched 5G on 1 September 2025 in selected urban zones.
• Only a small slice of devices can connect today, with about 6.6 percent of phones in use estimated to be 5G ready.
• Local plants produced around 1.70 lakh 5G enabled handsets in the first seven months of 2025, just 1.29 percent of output.
• Feature phones still dominate production, while 4G smartphones make up most of the remaining share.
• Robi will prioritize areas where 12 to 20 percent of devices are already 5G capable and targets about 1,000 sites by end 2026.
• Grameenphone went live in select areas across all eight divisional cities and will densify coverage in phases.
• Officials plan to release 700 MHz spectrum and may refarm 800 and 900 MHz, with a phased 2G and 3G shutdown under discussion.
• There is no extra fee for 5G at launch, a 4G SIM works, and devices must be on operators’ approved lists with 5G enabled in settings.
• Analysts expect 5G adoption to take five to seven years to reach current 4G levels, driven by device affordability and network build out.
• Industrial and public sector use cases will grow as standalone cores, low band spectrum, and enterprise offerings mature.