Until 2022, foreign investment in telecom tower operators and submarine cable operators was limited to 70% maximum foreign shareholding; foreign shareholding in nationwide telecommunication transmission network operators and Broadband Wireless Access Services providers was limited to 60%.  No foreign shareholding limitations applied to public switched telephone operators and international terrestrial cable (ITC) operators.
Since 2022,  several other fixed telecommunications services that were previously closed to FDI [see related database entry] have been liberalised and are now also openned to foreign investment under joint venture associations with Bangladeshi investors, without specific foreign shareholding thresholds. For the purpose of the OECD FDIRRI, it is assumed that foreign shareholding thresholds established in the services-specific guidelines relating to tower operating, NTTI and BWA services remain applicable. In 2022, the guideline specific to submarine cable systems and services was amended. The previously applied foreign shareholding has been abrogated, and hence is no longer applicable.


"10.1 Eligibility for Licenses:
Licenses for IGW, ICX, IIG, NIX, ITC, IP Telephony, IP-TV, international VOIP calls, submarine cables, NTTN, and Tower Sharing will be granted to:
(a) Bangladeshi entities.
(b) Joint ventures between Bangladeshi and foreign entities, provided they comply with relevant Bangladeshi laws and regulations.
All financial transactions for such entities must be conducted through Bangladeshi commercial banks.
10.2 Submarine Cable License (Clause 10.2)
Submarine cable licenses will be granted to Bangladeshi entities or joint ventures with foreign entities, adhering to Bangladeshi laws and regulations. [...]" (INTERNATIONAL LONG DISTANCE TELECOMMUNICATION  SERVICES (ILDTS) POLICY-2010, May 2010, amended by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Notice No. 14.32.0000.702.42.001.19.1145, "Amendment to the International Long Distance Telecommunications Services (ILDTS) Policy-2010", 13 June 13 2022 [google translated])
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"4.8 ELIGIBILITY
4.8.1 The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) invites offers/proposals from Bangladeshi companies/firms, or joint venture companies with Bangladeshi partners, or overseas companies, meeting the criteria as mentioned in Clause No. 4.3.1, having considerable experience in Telecommunication Services for granting of license to establish, maintain and operate such system for use in Bangladesh. [...]
4.8.3 Submarine Cable Systems And Services Operator's license will be issued to all, irrespective of Bangladeshi (resident citizens, nonresident Bangladeshi (NRB), proprietorships, partnerships-under the Partnership Act 1932 and companies registered under 'Joint Stock Companies and firms under the Companies Act 1994) or Foreign entities (citizens, companies or subsidiaries or holding companies). Foreign Partnership or Joint Venture is also permitted.
In case of foreign investment, the entity shall invest foreign currency directly according to its percentage of ownership and shall not be allowed to take any loan from any Bangladeshi Schedule Bank/ Financial Institution / Leasing Company. After fulfilment of rollout obligation, if loan is required for operational purpose/business expansion, the entity can take maximum 20% of its total loan from any Bangladeshi Schedule BanV Financial Institution / Leasing Company. [n that case, the entity shall take prior permission from the Commission. The existing licensee having loan more than 20% of its total loan from any Bangladeshi Schedule Bank/ Financial Institution / Leasing Company shall reduce their loan to 20% within 05 years from the date of amendment of this Guideline. By any means this License shall not be assigned or pledged as security when taking loans. The foreign entity shall comply with all the rules, regulations and instructions of Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and any other competent authority of Bangladesh. [...]" (Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Invitation of Offers/Proposals for Issuing License to Build, Operate and Maintain Submarine Cable Systems and Services in Bangladesh, BTRC/LLISC (270)12008-177, 31 March 2011, as amended by BTRC Notification NO.14.32.0000.007.54.302.16.08, "Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Invitation of offers/proposals for License to Build, Operate and Maintain Submarine Cable Systems and Services in Bangladesh", 10 January 2022)  
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Previously up to 2021
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"4.8 ELIGIBILITY
4.8.1 The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) invites offers/proposals from Bangladeshi companies/firms or joint venture companies with Bangladeshi partners, or Bangladeshi companies' joint venture with overseas companies having considerable experience in Submarine Cable Systems and Services for granting of license to establish, maintain and operate such system for use in Bangladesh. [...]
4.8.3 Foreign shareholding is limited to maximum 70%. The foreign partner shall invest in foreign currency directly equal to his percentage of ownership and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi Scheduled Bank/ Financial Institution/ Leasing Company can be raised for the foreign part of the investment. [...]" (Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Invitation of Offers/Proposals for Issuing License to Build, Operate and Maintain Submarine Cable Systems and Services in Bangladesh, BTRC/LLISC (270)12008-177, 31 March 2011)  
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"3. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of these guidelines are as follows: 
3.01 These Guidelines are intended to provide an overview of the licensing and regulatory framework for Applicant(s) seeking to obtain License under these guidelines to develop, build, own, acquire, rent, lease, operate and maintain Tower for providing telecommunications services in Bangladesh. No person or business entity shall be allowed to develop, build, operate and maintain Towers without a valid License issued by the Commission.
[...]
Article 5. ELIGIBILITY 
(1) Bangladeshi entities (consortium, partnerships and companies registered under 'Joint Stock of Companies and Firms' under the law(s) of Bangladesh are eligible to apply for Tower Sharing License. However, Bangladeshi entity may have NRB and/or foreign entity as partner. A partnership/consortium of NRB and/or foreign entity without Bangladeshi partner(s) is not eligible.
(2) In case of foreign entity applying together with Bangladeshi partner, foreign equity is limited to maximum 70% seventy percent). The foreign partner shall invest in foreign currency directly equal to his percentage of ownership and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi Scheduled Bank/ Financial institution/ Leasing Company shall be raised for the foreign part of the investment.
(3) In case of NRB applying together with Bangladeshi partner, there is no limitation on the quantity of foreign equity. NRB shall invest directly in foreign currency and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi Scheduled Bank/ Financial Institution/ Leasing Company shall be raised for his part of the investment.
(4) The cellular mobile operators and/or Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Operators having license from the Commission shall not be eligible to apply for this license. [...]" (Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Issuing License for Tower Sharing in Bangladesh, 1 April 2018)
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"5. ELIGIBILITY 
5.01 Foreign shareholding is limited to maximum 60% (Sixty Percent). The foreign partner shall invest in foreign currency directly equal to his percentage of ownership and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi Scheduled Bank/ Financial institution/ Leasing Company can be raised for the foreign part of the investment. 
5.02 For NRB (Non-Resident Bangladeshi), maximum 70% (Seventy Percent) of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) is allowed. The Foreign investment shall be invested directly in foreign currency and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi Scheduled Bank/ Financial Institution/ Leasing Company can be raised for the foreign part of the investment.
5.03 NRB or foreign entity must have a Bangladeshi partner(s). A partnership/consortium of NRB and foreign entity without Bangladeshi partner(s) is not eligible. In case of NRB and foreign entity applying together with Bangladeshi partner, foreign equity from foreign entity shall not exceed 60% and the total foreign equity (both NRB and foreign entity) shall not exceed 70%. In any case Bangladeshi partner(s) shall hold minimum 30% equity. 
5.04 The mobile operators (CDMA/GSM) and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Operators having license from the Commission and any of its existing shareholders (foreign/Bangladeshi) and any other company whose shareholders hold shares of any cellular mobile phone operator company and BWA Operators holding license from the Commission and any other person who is partner/ director/shareholder of licensed mobile operators and BWA operators in Bangladesh shall not be eligible to apply for this license. [...]" (REGULATORY AND LICENSING GUIDELINES FOR NATIONWIDE TELECOMMUNICATION TRANSMISSION NETWORK, No. BTRC/LL/NTTN (307)/2008-1346, 30 November 2008)
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"Invitation of proposals/offers for grant of license for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Services
1. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (the Commission) invites proposals/offers from eligible Bangladeshi entities or joint venture companies with foreign/Bangladeshi partners (proprietorships, partnerships and companies registered under 'Joint Stock of Companies and Firms' under the Companies Act 1994)  for grant of license to establish, maintain and operate Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Services. Only entities having adequate financial, technical and organizational capability to serve in the field should apply with an updated list of their business record and record of experience.
[...]
4.06 Eligibility
(i)  Foreign Equity is limited to maximum 60% (sixty percent). The foreign partner shall invest in foreign currency directly equal to his percentage of ownership and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi Scheduled Bank/ Financial institution/ Leasing Company can be raised for the foreign part of the investment. 
(ii) For NRB (Non-Resident Bangladeshi), maximum 70% of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) is allowed. The Foreign investment shall be invested directly in foreign currency and no bank loan from any Bangladeshi Scheduled Bank/ Financial Institution/ Leasing Company can be raised for the foreign part of the investment. 
(iii) The mobile operators (CDMA/GSM) having cellular mobile phone operator license from the Commission and any of its existing shareholders (foreign/Bangladeshi) and any other company whose shareholders hold shares of any cellular mobile phone operator company holding license from the Commission and any other person who is partner/ director/shareholder of licensed mobile operator in Bangladesh shall not be eligible to apply for this license. [...]" (REGULATORY AND LICENSING GUIDELINES  FOR INVITATION OF PROPOSALS/OFFERS FOR ISSUING LICENSE FOR ESTABLISHING, OPERATING AND MAINTAINING BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS SERVICES  IN BANGLADESH, No. BTRC/LL/BWA(275)/2008-1033, 6 August 2008)
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"Invitation to offers/proposals for granting License for Submarine Cable Systems and Services 
l. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (the Commission) invites offers/proposals from eligible Bangladeshi entities (resident citizens, Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB), proprietorships, partnerships-under the Partnership Act, 1932 and companies registered with the 'Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms' under the Companies Act, 1994) or joint venture with foreign entities or Foreign entities (citizens, companies or subsidiaries or holding companies) for granting License to establish, maintain and operate Submarine Cable Systems and Services. Only entities having adequate financial, technical and organizational capability to serve in the field of the telecommunication will apply with an updated list of their business record and record ofexperiences.[...]" (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, "Invitation to offers/proposals for granting License for Submarine Cable Systems and Services", No. 1 4.3 2.0 000.7 02.44.302.22.67, 22 February 2022)
INTERNATIONAL LONG DISTANCE TELECOMMUNICATION  SERVICES (ILDTS) POLICY-2010, May 2010, amended by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Notice No. 14.32.0000.702.42.001.19.1145, "Amendment to the International Long Distance Telecommunications Services (ILDTS) Policy-2010", 13 June 13 2022 
Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Issuing License for Tower Sharing in Bangladesh, 1 April 2018
REGULATORY AND LICENSING GUIDELINES FOR NATIONWIDE TELECOMMUNICATION TRANSMISSION NETWORK, No. BTRC/LL/NTTN (307)/2008-1346, 30 November 2008
REGULATORY AND LICENSING GUIDELINES  FOR INVITATION OF PROPOSALS/OFFERS FOR ISSUING LICENSE FOR ESTABLISHING, OPERATING AND MAINTAINING BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS SERVICES  IN BANGLADESH, No. BTRC/LL/BWA(275)/2008-1033, 6 August 2008
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, "Invitation to offers/proposals for granting License for Submarine Cable Systems and Services", No. 1 4.3 2.0 000.7 02.44.302.22.67, 22 February 2022
[<a href="https://btrc.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/btrc.portal.gov.bd/notices/0ad9c60f_4a1f_44e6_a88e_97aa926e80f5/2022-06-13-04-05-ec3cd813af45ba054469bfedb88b6338.pdf">Amendment</a>],[<a href="https://btrc.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/btrc.portal.gov.bd/notices/fdc38a75_d419_4f62_a5f0_54ab70882c38/2022-02-28-07-32-9bf1fd5b551fa63904ff9393b3d549f9.pdf">Notification</a>],[<a href="https://btrc.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/btrc.portal.gov.bd/notices/fdc38a75_d419_4f62_a5f0_54ab70882c38/2022-02-28-07-14-f9d9cd3fd069021f9540c932f4866786.pdf">Invitation</a>],[<a href="http://btrc.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/btrc.portal.gov.bd/page/1c1ea1c0_f8ef_4cdf_9005_d8a34b9ca554/2022-08-14-07-31-3d42560060e8f5ff919858c4a8a61fd1.pdf">Guideline</a>],[<a href="https://btrc.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/btrc.portal.gov.bd/page/1c1ea1c0_f8ef_4cdf_9005_d8a34b9ca554/2022-11-20-05-06-6da57a5ce394368ae2cbe1c3739f1ca4.pdf">Guideline</a>],[<a href="https://btrc.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/btrc.portal.gov.bd/page/1c1ea1c0_f8ef_4cdf_9005_d8a34b9ca554/2024-06-03-05-21-5e04bcc505e3a52fe80142aa8273a1a3.pdf">Guideline</a>]