Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to issue Third Generation (3G) licences for the Mobile Phone Operators by March next year and at the same time WiMax is set to launch its activities.
"The 3G licences will be issued within the first quarter of the next year, according to our deadline and definitely, those would be awarded through an open auction," Major General Manzurul Alam (Retd) Chairman of BTRC said.
Ericsson Bangladesh Limited, a telecoms vendor, introduced 3G network technology for the first time in Bangladesh on a trial basis in August.
Ericssion, a Sweden-based company, got permission from the BTRC for successfully conducting 3G network technology demonstration.
Experts said licensing the 2100 MHz spectrum for 3G services would enable Bangladeshi operators to launch mobile broadband services, through which customers can get fast and easy access to the internet and other online services.
When asked, which technology, 3G or WiMax, will truly be relevant to Bangladeshi market. "Let the customers and the market decide which technology is suitable for Bangladesh," the BTRC chief said adding that 3G will spread much faster than any other form of technology.
The GSM (Global System of Mobile Communication) signal covers about 95 percent of Bangladesh’s area, but the mobile broadband marker remains untapped. If mobile broadband can be provided at affordable prices, the number of subscribers of 47 million will reach 70 million by 2011.
Bangladesh has the world’s lowest internet usage rate, having less than 1 percent internet penetration. The whole broadband market is dominated by local ISPs (internet service providers).
Operators, however, are anxious about how much the auction price will be, when BTRC arranges for the auction for 3G. The WiMax operators recently hiked Tk 215 crore for each licence. The operators will have to launch WiMax by March next year. Among the three WiMax licence holders, only one could pay the licence fee within the deadline.
The WiMax technology is expected to improve and enhance the current internet infrastructure in Bangladesh
About the rational pricing model for 3G, a high official of BTRC said, operators should try to find a balance between capital expenditure, auction price and tariffs.
"Bangladesh, which has a very few fixed-line connections, could realise major social and economic benefits from the widespread availability of mobile broadband services," the official said. The country has a huge demand for communication and information services that can improve people’s lives and make businesses more productive, he said.
News collected from "The Bangladesh Today"
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