GP denied chance of 3G test run

The financial Express, 29 July 2012

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) did not allow Grameenphone (GP) for the test run of 3G (third generation) mobile service, officials said.

A high official of BTRC Saturday said they will not allow any private telecom operator for the service before completing the 2G (second generation) renewal process as the state-owned operator, Teletalk, is getting the privilege of 3G test run service.

Grameenphone, the market leader with 43 per cent share, submitted an application to the telecom watchdog seeking approval for 3G service last month.

The GP sought 5 megahertz (MHz) spectrum of 2100 band for setting up ‘test board’ network in its head office, BTRC and some ministries for three months.

Syed Tahmed Azizul Huq, head of corporate communication of GP, said his company’s plan was to test its combination with 2G service in some selected areas to scrutinise the technological sides of the upcoming 3G service.

He told the FE Saturday: “It was a pilot

project for 3G mobile service with selected stakeholders but the authority did not agree to give us approval for the same.”

The BTRC official mentioned that the commission is working on issuance of 3G licence, and it has already made a guideline that is available for public comment.

The country’s leading operator took primary preparation for 3G mobile service by developing its network. The operator completed the network swapping some 7,272 of its base transceiver stations (BTSs).

The GP mentioned in its annual report that this future-proof technology will bring network efficiency, enable the company to provide better services to its subscribers and prepare the network for 3G.

To maintain its leadership position in the industry, the GP continued to invest in its network.

“Our cumulative investment reached over Tk 170.9 billion (17,093 crore) of which Tk 12.96 billion was invested in 2011 for network quality, data capacity enhancement and modernisation,” the annual report 2011 read.

At the end of 2011, the accumulated number of BTSs of the operator stood at 13,725 in 7,546 locations all over the country.