Grameenphone, the country’s leading mobile phone operator, is going to deliver fixed wi-max internet services in partnership with two major service providers – Agni Systems Ltd and ADN Telecom Limited.
“We are going to form a partnership with two ISPs regarding fixed wi-max, where we use common brand, share network and customer cares,” a high official of Grameenphone told the Dhaka Tribune.
Agni Systems Ltd informed that already they have jointly offered broadband services in different areas of the country and will launch fixed wi-max service within five to six months.
“With the name of ‘go broadband’ dongles, we are preparing ourselves to offload the service,” Mozammel Haque, chief technology officer of Agni said.
Sources said both Agni Systems and ADN Telecom Limited have fixed wi-max spectrum on 3.5 band, 7 megahertz respectively.
Already two ISPs – Bangladesh internet exchange limited (BIEL) and New Generation Graphics Limited (NGGL) – jointly deliver the same services from 2011 in Dhaka, in the name of OLLO.
Regulator BTRC has approved the proposal of the tripartite initiative recently. Following the approval Agni Systems Ltd and ADN Telecom Limited reached an agreement with Grameenphone.
According to the agreement, Agni and ADN establish their network with the assistance of Grameenphone’s infrastructure. At the same time, they use a common brand and customer care but the billing systems will be different.
Agni System informed that their equipment has already arrived from China and they are establishing the wi-max network, which is a Tk150m project.
Officials of an ISP operator said though they have small amount of spectrum, they will cover it with efficient service.
According to the BTRC approved tariff plan, ‘go broadband’ could charge Tk550 for 2GB with 500Kbps speed. With the same speed, 6GB to cost Tk900, 12GB Tk1,050 and 24GB Tk1,300. With 1Mbps speed, 2GB to cost Tk1,050, 6GB Tk1,400, 12GB Tk1,550 and 24GB Tk1,800.
Already, New Generation Graphics Ltd has launched the fixed wi-max service and Agni System Ltd and ADN Systems Ltd is waiting for service. Four other companies have the same spectrum and they have the permission of importing the IEEE 802.16e standard equipment.
So Access Telecom, Global Access, Link-3 Technologies and Tackyon Ltd. can launce fixed wi-max services anytime.
