The mobile phone operator Robi has launched the third generation service for soft operation simultaneously in Dhaka and Chittagong cities on Saturday.
But Robi could not yet launch the service commercially as the regulator didn’t approve it.
Post and Telecommunication Minister Sahara Khatun inaugurated the service at a function held at the Robi’s corporate office in Dhaka.
Robi has become the first private operator in Bangladesh to introduce 3G after the auction held on early this month.
Robi bought 5 MHz airwave in an open auction on September 8 is planning to go into commercial operation in October.
The leading operator Grameenphone is set to bring the 3G service to the customers today at a function in its headquarters GP House in Dhaka.
Sources said Robi and Grameenphone may commercially launch the service in 10 days, however depending on the regulator’s package approvals.
“Although Robi’s 3.5G service is not commercially available to its subscribers until October, the customers may visit the Robi walk-in centres (WIC) in city’s Gulshan and Muradpur in Chittagong to experience the firsthand of the 3.5G network over pre-configured 3G-enabled handsets and tablets,” said Michael Kuehner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Robi on the occasion.
Post and Telecommunication secretary Abubakar Siddique, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) acting chairman Giashuddin Ahmed, commissioner Md Abdus Samad and Robi high officials, among others, were present at the Robi’s launching of 3G.
Shahara Khatun said the government is providing all kinds of necessary assistants to the mobile phone operators so they could provide services to the people across the country.
She also said: “3G can create the financial revolution with communication and interment as well if operators offer the 3G service to the people at affordable cost.”
The 3G services of private operators would help the government to make the digital Bangladesh campaign successful, she added.
Robi CEO said: “3G services mark the beginning of the next phase of Bangladesh’s telecom growth story and will elevate the telecom sector as par with most advanced telecom markets in the world.”
Robi’s priority is to ensure the customers experience the 3G service rather than having just a speedy execution, Michael Kuehner added.
Robi’s roll-out plan is much shorter than the regulatory roll-out obligations timeframe specified in the 3G license terms.
The company expects to cover at least 40% of its customer base and 60% of its data users by the end of 2013. The coverage is set to grow more than 60% of customer base within the first quarter of 2014.
Giashuddin Ahmed said: “To get the real benefit, the operators need to ensure the quality of the service.”
Robi Chief Technology Officer, AKM Morshed said the 3.5G network will be in limited areas just after the launch to test the network efficacy before the commercial operation.
After the test the expansion will be carried out fast in phases, he said adding that Robi’s priority is “to ensure that the customers’ experience with 3.5G services is in no way compromised.”
At the launching function, some 3G features like video calls, mobile television and video steaming were displayed.
