Bangladesh Launches 5G, but Phone Shortage Limits Early Reach

A new network with a small pool of users

Bangladesh launched commercial 5G on 1 September 2025, but only about 6.6 percent of phones in use are estimated to support the technology. Robi Axiata and Grameenphone switched on services in selected urban areas, opening a new chapter for the telecom sector while leaving most customers dependent on existing networks.

The shortage of compatible phones is visible in local factories. During the first seven months of 2025, they produced about 1.70 lakh, or 170,000, handsets capable of using 5G. That represented just 1.29 percent of domestic handset output, according to regulator data and industry estimates.

Feature phones, used mainly for calls and basic services, accounted for roughly 82 lakh units, or 8.2 million, and 62.28 percent of production. Factories also made more than 48 lakh, or 4.8 million, 4G smartphones, representing 36.65 percent of output. Most new locally produced phones therefore cannot connect to the network just launched.

Across the phones already in use, around 62 percent are smartphones, mostly supporting 4G. A separate market projection puts smartphone adoption at about 63 percent of users in 2025, up from the previous year. These measures describe a market still expanding access to smartphones while beginning another technological upgrade.

Operators and industry officials expect the immediate effect of 5G to be modest. Robi estimates that usage could take five to seven years to reach the level that 4G enjoys today, with progress depending on handset prices, supply chains and the expansion of coverage.

For customers, the practical change is initially local: someone with an approved phone may gain access in a covered neighborhood, while another person elsewhere in the same city may continue using 4G. Buying a compatible handset and having a signal available are both necessary.

Where the first services are available

Robi activated 5G sites in Fakirapul and Moghbazar Chowrasta in Dhaka, parts of Dhaka University, Khulshi in Chattogram, and Sagor Dighir Par in Sylhet. Its rollout begins with small areas where the company believes enough customers already own suitable phones.

Grameenphone announced availability in selected areas across all eight divisional headquarters, including Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna. Its opening footprint reaches more divisional cities, with coverage to become denser zone by zone.

Both networks remain limited at launch. Robi plans to have more than 200 live 5G sites by the end of 2025 and around 1,000 by the end of 2026. Grameenphone intends to expand coverage in phases across the cities included in its launch.

The main dates behind the rollout show how long preparations have taken and where the next milestones lie:

• March 2022: Operators acquired 190 MHz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands for roughly $1.23 billion.
• January to July 2025: Local factories produced about 170,000 handsets capable of using 5G.
• 1 September 2025: Robi and Grameenphone launched commercial services in selected areas.
• End of 2025: Robi targets more than 200 live 5G sites.
• End of 2026: Robi aims to reach around 1,000 sites.

How customers can connect

Most customers do not need a replacement SIM. A 4G SIM can work with 5G, provided the handset supports the frequency bands used by the operator and its model appears on that operator's approved list.

Operators say there is no separate 5G fee at launch. Data use comes out of existing packages. Customers must be inside a coverage zone, install the latest phone software and enable 5G in their network settings. Restarting the phone may help complete activation, and a 5G symbol beside the signal indicator confirms the connection.

Android and iPhone users can follow these settings, after checking that their particular model is approved:

• Android: Update the software, open Settings, then Mobile Network or Connections, select Network Mode, and choose 5G Auto or 5G On. Restart the handset if needed.
• iPhone: Update iOS, open Settings, then Mobile Data, Mobile Data Options, and Voice and Data. Select 5G Auto or 5G On. Under Data Mode, choose Standard or Allow More Data on 5G, then restart if needed.

Model approval matters because phones sold under similar names in different markets may have different frequency support or software. Clear operator lists and public awareness campaigns can help customers check compatibility before spending money on an upgrade.

Why affordable handsets matter most

Bangladesh's handset market remains heavily weighted toward feature phones and 4G smartphones. Another market assessment also puts 5G models at only a small fraction of new phone shipments. For buyers who are sensitive to price, a cheaper 4G device may remain the practical choice until 5G models become more affordable.

Imported phones and devices brought as gifts by Bangladeshis living abroad account for roughly 40 percent of the smartphone market. Many are expensive models with 5G capability, although a sizable portion are refurbished. Their presence helps explain why the phones already connected to networks can offer a different picture from domestic factory output.

Phones entering through unofficial channels can cost less, but they often bypass taxes and quality controls. Some may lack the exact frequency support or software configuration needed by local operators. That can complicate network optimization, the work of adjusting a network so devices connect and perform reliably.

Local assemblers also face competition from those imports after investing in production of approved models. Rizwanul Haque, vice president of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh and chief executive of Ismartu Technology BD, described the pressure on manufacturers:

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.

Haque said Tecno, which Ismartu manufactures in Bangladesh, plans to introduce three 5G models. Those additions are intended to widen choice in the middle of the price range. The prices and availability of such models will help determine how many consumers can upgrade over the next few years.

Why Robi is following the phones

Robi's rollout strategy reflects large differences between neighborhoods. In about 200 areas it tracks, the company says 12 to 15 percent of active devices can use 5G. In another 120 areas, the share is close to 20 percent.

Those concentrations give Robi a clearer starting point than the national estimate of 6.6 percent. Building sites where compatible phones are already common can bring more immediate use of the new capacity.

Shahed Alam, Robi's chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer, explained the company's initial priorities and the customers it expects to move first:

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 will monitor device trends while expanding through the end of 2026. Grameenphone's approach begins with a presence across all eight divisional cities before filling coverage gaps. Both operators expect gradual adoption, with five to seven years needed before 5G usage resembles current 4G engagement.

The airwaves behind the upgrade

Operators acquired 190 MHz of spectrum across the 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands in March 2022 for roughly $1.23 billion. Spectrum is the radio space that carries wireless signals. These middle frequency bands can deliver substantial capacity and strong speeds in crowded urban areas.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has since issued unified licenses intended to make operations less dependent on a particular generation of technology. The framework simplifies renewals, encourages resource sharing and makes upgrades between network generations easier, aligning with the country's Smart Bangladesh vision.

Industry participants have nevertheless pointed to slow guidance on putting 5G into service and the expense of deploying networks in a market where customers closely watch prices. Spectrum and licenses provide a foundation, but operators still need to fund equipment, sites and the systems connecting them.

At a Robi event during launch week, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, said practical applications for 5G remained underdeveloped. He encouraged closer cooperation among government, the regulator and industry.

Taiyeb also said the regulator plans to release spectrum in the 700 MHz band, with more under consideration in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz ranges. He suggested gradually switching off 2G and 3G to make airwaves available for 4G and 5G. No release date or shutdown timetable was given.

Lower frequency signals such as 700 MHz travel farther and enter buildings more effectively than middle frequency signals. Combining them can give a network both speed in busy districts and wider reach in suburban and rural areas. Reusing airwaves assigned to older networks is known as refarming.

What faster service may feel like

Customers who connect should see faster downloads and more responsive applications, particularly where operators have modern radio equipment and clear access to middle frequency spectrum. International benchmarks put median 5G speeds in the hundreds of megabits per second on networks with extensive infrastructure.

Lower latency, meaning a shorter delay between sending a request and receiving a response, can help video calls, cloud gaming and other interactive applications. Speed and responsiveness still depend on local network conditions.

Many early 5G networks internationally use a 4G core, the central system that manages connections and data. This arrangement is called non standalone 5G. Depending on conditions, the experience can resemble a particularly strong 4G connection.

A standalone 5G core allows more advanced functions, including network slicing and tighter control over delays. Network slicing divides shared infrastructure into separate virtual networks, allowing particular services to receive the capacity or priority they need.

Customers should also watch their data packages. Access has no additional 5G fee at launch, but faster connections can lead to higher data use. The value of an upgrade will depend on coverage, the handset, the package and what the customer actually does online.

How Bangladesh compares with other markets

Worldwide, industry research counted roughly 2.4 billion 5G subscriptions in the first quarter of 2025 and projected close to 2.9 billion by the end of the year. Bangladesh is entering a market in which other countries have already built extensive infrastructure and large user bases.

The United States has national 5G coverage supported by large holdings of middle frequency spectrum, helping raise typical speeds. China reports millions of 5G base stations and is moving toward 5G Advanced. South Korea remains a leader in infrastructure and usage after being among the earliest adopters.

India launched commercial 5G in October 2022. By March 2025, it had around 250 million active users and roughly 469,000 base stations, representing one of the fastest expansions globally.

Bangladesh starts from a different position. A recent review of the mobile economy found it behind regional peers in smartphone ownership and mobile internet adoption, identifying device affordability and digital skills as major constraints.

Analysts expect limited coverage in Bangladesh in the near term. Matching India's pace would require a larger supply of affordable compatible phones, sustained access to spectrum and faster deployment of sites. The current focus on neighborhoods with more suitable devices reflects those conditions.

What factories and public services would need

5G is designed to provide greater capacity, higher typical speeds and lower latency than 4G. Those qualities could support factories, ports and utilities as well as entertainment and everyday internet use.

Dedicated network slices can give priority to critical traffic. Private 5G networks can serve large campuses or industrial parks, providing predictable connections for automation, sensors and autonomous vehicles. High capacity combined with short delays can also improve telemedicine, remote classrooms, smart transport and emergency communications.

Businesses would need compatible equipment and a clear financial reason to invest. Operators would need standalone cores, a broader range of devices and service packages designed for industrial customers.

Government support could include simpler permits, access to public infrastructure for small cells, and standard frameworks for security and data protection. Small cells are compact network installations that help provide coverage and capacity in particular locations.

The unified licensing system and potential release of lower frequency spectrum can support that work. Pilot projects in health, education, logistics and manufacturing would connect investment to practical national priorities. Taiyeb's observation that applications remain underdeveloped places that task alongside the construction of the network itself.

The next steps depend on coverage and cost

Over the coming months, customers can expect selective expansion in Dhaka, Chattogram and other divisional cities. Operators will add approved handset models as manufacturers release software updates. Robi's targets provide dated milestones, while Grameenphone will work to deepen coverage within its launch cities.

Local assemblers and brands say more 5G models are coming, including options in the middle of the price range. Stronger action against illicit imports could improve conditions for domestic manufacturing and make device certification and network optimization easier.

Financing, installment purchases and programs allowing customers to exchange older phones could also help people move from 4G. Their usefulness will depend on whether the resulting costs fit household budgets.

Wider access to 700 MHz spectrum and progress on refarming could improve indoor and suburban service. For now, the rollout's pace rests on several developments moving together: more coverage, affordable phones, compatible software and services worth using. Operators' expectation of a gradual transition reflects the time each requires.

Key Points

• Robi and Grameenphone launched commercial 5G on 1 September 2025 in selected urban zones.
• About 6.6 percent of active phones are estimated to support 5G; around 62 percent are smartphones, mostly using 4G.
• Local factories produced about 170,000 compatible handsets in January to July 2025, just 1.29 percent of total output.
• Robi targets more than 200 sites by the end of 2025 and around 1,000 by the end of 2026.
• Grameenphone began in selected areas across all eight divisional headquarters.
• A 4G SIM can work, but customers need an approved compatible phone, current software, enabled settings and coverage.
• There is no separate 5G access fee at launch; usage counts against existing data packages.
• Officials plan to release 700 MHz spectrum and are considering other lower frequency bands and a gradual retirement of older networks.
• Operators expect adoption to take five to seven years to resemble today's 4G usage.
• Industrial and public service applications require further investment in networks, equipment and practical projects.