DHAKA – Bangladesh marked a significant step forward in its digital journey as 5G services officially launched on September 1, 2025. The country’s leading mobile operators, Robi Axiata and Grameenphone, activated 5G networks in select urban areas, aiming to usher in a new era of high-speed connectivity.
However, despite the technological milestone, the launch comes with a major hurdle — a lack of compatible handsets. Industry experts caution that widespread adoption of 5G will be slow, as only a small fraction of mobile devices in the country can access the new network.
According to data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), local manufacturers produced just 1.70 lakh (170,000) 5G-enabled smartphones in the first seven months of 2025. This represents a mere 1.29% of the total handset output. In contrast, feature phones still dominate production, accounting for over 62% (82 lakh units), while 4G smartphones made up 36.65% (over 48 lakh units).
These figures reflect a broader structural challenge in Bangladesh’s telecom ecosystem. With 2G and 4G devices still making up the vast majority of phones in use, the transition to 5G is likely to be slow — regardless of network availability.
Currently, around 62% of mobile devices in use are smartphones, according to the BTRC, but the vast majority are 4G-enabled. Industry estimates suggest that only about 6.6% of all mobile phones in Bangladesh are currently capable of connecting to 5G networks.
Adding to the complexity, nearly 40% of the smartphone market consists of imported or expatriate-gifted phones. While many of these high-end devices are 5G-ready, a significant number are refurbished or second-hand, raising compatibility concerns.
Robi Axiata, the pioneer in Bangladesh’s 5G deployment, remains optimistic. The company reports that in the 200 areas where 5G has been rolled out, device penetration is between 12% and 15%, with some zones reaching up to 20%. “Our initial focus is on these high-penetration areas,” said Shahed Alam, Robi’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer. “Encouragingly, 4G users are showing strong interest in upgrading to 5G.”
Alam also noted that most imported or gifted phones registered on Robi’s network are functioning well with 5G. However, he acknowledged that broader adoption will take time. Robi projects it could take five to seven years for 5G usage to reach the current levels of 4G adoption, with affordability and access to compatible devices posing the biggest barriers.
On the manufacturing side, local producers are trying to catch up. Rizwanul Haque, Vice President of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners’ Association of Bangladesh and CEO of Ismartu Technology BD, said only about 15% of new smartphones produced locally are currently 5G-compatible.
He pointed out that while the 5G share is low across total handset production, the picture looks better when focusing solely on smartphones. “The supply chain is slowly moving towards 5G,” Haque explained. “However, grey market imports continue to undermine local manufacturers. If illicit imports are better regulated, local production will be in a stronger position to meet demand.”
Haque added that his company, which manufactures Tecno-branded phones, is preparing to launch three new 5G-enabled models soon, signaling that local industry players are beginning to align with global trends.
Despite the rocky start, the 5G launch represents a crucial first step for Bangladesh’s telecom industry. The next few years will be critical in determining how quickly the country can overcome the current challenges and realize the full potential of 5G connectivity.
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