Airtel Bangladesh selects Huawei as network partner

FE Report Bangladesh subsidiary of the Indian telecom service provider 'Bharti Airtel said on Tuesday it selected Huawei Technologies as network partner for rolling out 3G services in the country. Airtel Bangladesh was awarded 3G licence with 5 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum in 2100 MHz band for US$ 105 million in the auction held on Sunday, the company said in a statement, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI). "Airtel Bangladesh Limited today announced Huawei Technologies Bangladesh Limited as network partner for the upcoming launch of 3G Services in Bangladesh," said the Indian state-managed news agency PTI from New Delhi. 3G services will mark the beginning of the next phase of Bangladesh's telecom growth story and elevate the telecom sector at par with most advanced telecom markets in the world, Airtel Bangladesh CEO and Managing Director Chris Tobit told the news agency. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission recently sold 25 MHz of 3G airwaves for US$ 525 million to four telecom operators including Grameenphone, Robi Axiata, Airtel Bangladesh and Banglalink Digital Communications. "We are glad to partner with Airtel in 3G rollout in Bangladesh. We hope to provide best in class support to cater to satisfactory innovative services for the customers." PTI quoted Huawei Technologies Bangladesh CEO Baker Zhou as saying. With 3G as part of its services, Airtel will introduce a suite of products along with meeting the growing demand of high speed surfing and wireless Internet entertainment, it added. Airtel Bangladesh is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharti AirtelBSE 4.48 per cent. With 3G technology, users can have high-speed Internet access and video telephony on handset.