Cell-phone operators readying to offer 3G next year
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Jamal Uddin
The country's cellular-phone operators are taking all required preparation for providing Third Generation (3G) mobile phone service next year.
3G service will be the next core business of the telecom operators next to voice call, as it will bring a boom in data service business. Less than ten per cent of local mobile users, out of the total 98.293 million, are using internet at present.
"We have completed necessary technical upgradation, and are expecting to launch 3G operation immediately after getting license," said Tanveer Mohammad, chief technology officer of Grameenphone (GP).
He said GP would switch to 3G services immediately by installing 3G radio card into the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) after the telecom regulator handovers license to it.
GP has made technical upgradation of its over 8,000 BTSs across the country through network swapping to ensure better network service for the customers.
Tanveer informed that they also have the preparation to offer Fourth Generation (4G) and Long Term Evolution (LTE).
GP would launch the 3G service firstly in Dhaka and then in other big cities in phases after getting 3G license through proper process. But, all these depend on the license price.
He hoped that they would provide better 3G service compared to others market players.
Besides GP, other cell-phone operators - Banglalink, Robi and Airtel - are also in the race of preparation for introducing 3G service. Citycell, the country's only CDMA operator, is providing 'evideo' that is nearly 3G service.
The country's second largest mobile operator Banglalink appointed Ziad Shatara as its new CEO, who is experienced in data service, targeting the launching of 3G service in the country.
CEO of Vimpelcom, the mother company of Banglalink, Jo Olav Lunder during his recent visit in Bangladesh told the local media that it will continue investing in 3G service in the country, considering its potentiality.
Executive vice president of Robi Mahmudur Rahman said offering of their 3G service will depend on resolving some financial and non-financial issues, mentioned in the 3G guideline.
The state-run telecom operator Teletalk, out of six mobile phone operators, is now providing 3G service in a limited scale. So far the operator has experienced negative response due to poor network, connectivity problem and lack of technological awareness, said observers.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MoPT) has planned to hold auction for 3G mobile phone service by January next with US$ 20 million as the base price for per MHz spectrum of 2100 band.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has reserved 50 MHz spectrum of 2100 brand to provide 10 MHz to each expected bid winner, including the state-owned operator Teletalk.
The mobile operators are now researching different aspects of the country's market for the 3G service, taking some issues into the account, which will be challenging for them to make it successful in context of business viability.
The operators identified that lack of local content, poor literacy rate, 3G-enabled mobile handset penetration and affordability problem are the major concerns for the 3G service. On the other hand, limited fixed broadband connection and population density are considered as the biggest opportunities for spreading the service.
Already some operators, who have been successfully providing 2G service, have developed their network targeting 3G mobile phone service, and sort out some ways so that they can take the service to the mass people at affordable costs.
However, they are worried about the spectrum price of 3G, as it will determine success history of the service in the country.
They think if they invest a considerable amount of money for the spectrum price, then it will surge the charge at customer level and cut the amount of investment for market creation, thus creating a negative impact on 3G service penetration.
3G service will play a significant role in the country's economic development. So the government should keep the spectrum price at reasonable level, said industry insiders.
The country's cellular-phone operators are taking all required preparation for providing Third Generation (3G) mobile phone service next year.
3G service will be the next core business of the telecom operators next to voice call, as it will bring a boom in data service business. Less than ten per cent of local mobile users, out of the total 98.293 million, are using internet at present.
"We have completed necessary technical upgradation, and are expecting to launch 3G operation immediately after getting license," said Tanveer Mohammad, chief technology officer of Grameenphone (GP).
He said GP would switch to 3G services immediately by installing 3G radio card into the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) after the telecom regulator handovers license to it.
GP has made technical upgradation of its over 8,000 BTSs across the country through network swapping to ensure better network service for the customers.
Tanveer informed that they also have the preparation to offer Fourth Generation (4G) and Long Term Evolution (LTE).
GP would launch the 3G service firstly in Dhaka and then in other big cities in phases after getting 3G license through proper process. But, all these depend on the license price.
He hoped that they would provide better 3G service compared to others market players.
Besides GP, other cell-phone operators - Banglalink, Robi and Airtel - are also in the race of preparation for introducing 3G service. Citycell, the country's only CDMA operator, is providing 'evideo' that is nearly 3G service.
The country's second largest mobile operator Banglalink appointed Ziad Shatara as its new CEO, who is experienced in data service, targeting the launching of 3G service in the country.
CEO of Vimpelcom, the mother company of Banglalink, Jo Olav Lunder during his recent visit in Bangladesh told the local media that it will continue investing in 3G service in the country, considering its potentiality.
Executive vice president of Robi Mahmudur Rahman said offering of their 3G service will depend on resolving some financial and non-financial issues, mentioned in the 3G guideline.
The state-run telecom operator Teletalk, out of six mobile phone operators, is now providing 3G service in a limited scale. So far the operator has experienced negative response due to poor network, connectivity problem and lack of technological awareness, said observers.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MoPT) has planned to hold auction for 3G mobile phone service by January next with US$ 20 million as the base price for per MHz spectrum of 2100 band.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has reserved 50 MHz spectrum of 2100 brand to provide 10 MHz to each expected bid winner, including the state-owned operator Teletalk.
The mobile operators are now researching different aspects of the country's market for the 3G service, taking some issues into the account, which will be challenging for them to make it successful in context of business viability.
The operators identified that lack of local content, poor literacy rate, 3G-enabled mobile handset penetration and affordability problem are the major concerns for the 3G service. On the other hand, limited fixed broadband connection and population density are considered as the biggest opportunities for spreading the service.
Already some operators, who have been successfully providing 2G service, have developed their network targeting 3G mobile phone service, and sort out some ways so that they can take the service to the mass people at affordable costs.
However, they are worried about the spectrum price of 3G, as it will determine success history of the service in the country.
They think if they invest a considerable amount of money for the spectrum price, then it will surge the charge at customer level and cut the amount of investment for market creation, thus creating a negative impact on 3G service penetration.
3G service will play a significant role in the country's economic development. So the government should keep the spectrum price at reasonable level, said industry insiders.