The fifth-generation (5G) technology for broadband cellular network will be launched in Bangladesh on a trial basis this year, said Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar.

The minister revealed the information at ‘BSRF Dialogue’ organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Media Centre of the Secretariat on Wednesday.

“All preparations are complete. You’ll be happy to know that state-owned telecom operator Teletalk will launch the fifth-generation (5G) technology on trial run,” Mostafa Jabbar said, adding that the government will arrange an auction for 5G spectrum for other operators in 2022.

Jabbar said Teletalk has already prepared five sites. “We’ll expand it in 2022 and a spectrum auction will be held in the first quarter of 2022. Hopefully, all operators will be able to develop 5G technology from 2022.”

Announcing plans to introduce 5G technology in areas with special needs, the minister said, “5G is not just a common technology, it’s the highway of all technologies.”

The 4G network will meet the general needs of voice calls and internet. “We’re trying to provide 5G technology for mills and high-tech parks. We’re fulfilling the responsibility of building highways for digital Bangladesh.”

“Currently, 95 percent of internet users are dependent on mobile phones. The big challenge of this mobile dependency was 4G expansion, all the operators did it. But there’re still some problems like call drops, slow internet speed or poor network. Work is underway to solve these problems,” Mostafa Jabbar added.

About the blame on Facebook for the recent communal violence, Jabbar said, “Spreading rumours on social media is just one aspect. Everything is going digital. It’ll invite danger if digital security is not ensured.”

Mostafa Jabbar said Facebook and YouTube are US companies and they have made guidelines on security as per their social reality, they do not understand the issues of Bangladesh.

“Currently, we’re in regular contact with them. After the Cumilla incident, we’ve been able to close 266 out of 300 links. I hope they’ll consider the socio-economic condition of Bangladesh. With our own capacity, we can shut down a site instantly. In the case of social media, we can stop the streaming of a Facebook Live, if we want.”

Principal Information Officer Shahenur Mia was also present at the dialogue chaired by BSRF President Tapan Biswas and conducted by General Secretary Masudul Hoque.