Banglalink may not take part in 3G auction on price grounds

Bangladeshi mobile operator Banglalink may not participate in the forthcoming 3G auction if the floor price in the bidding is set at USD 30 million per megahertz of spectrum, said Ahmed Abou Doma, group chief executive officer of Orascom Telecom Holding, The Daily Star reported online. Banglalink may have to keep providing the internet through EDGE technology, which is not as speedy as the 3G system, said Doma, who used to be CEO of Banglalink. The floor price was issued as a guideline in March by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. Each operator will be provided 10 MHz spectrum in the 2,100 MHz band. The draft guideline is now at the telecom ministry for approval.