The state-owned mobile phone operator Teletalk attracted over 1,500 3G customers daily on an average over last one year since it launched the high-speed broadband service on October 14, 2012.
Although the problem was with the network frequency, the 3G customers of the operator have enjoyed making video calls, watching mobile TV, downloading at fastest speed, streaming and video conferencing.
Teletalk officials said they had to work hard throughout the year to establish market base for the third generation mobile broadband service in the country.
“That was a tough time for us to create market for 3G.
It (market) is ready now,” Md Mujibur Rahman, managing director of Teletalk, told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said the operator has now more than 550,000 3G customers across the country and all of them are active subscribers.
The Teletalk MD added the operator is now providing 4,000-5,000 connections every day, most of which are 3G.
By the end of this September, the operator’s total subscribers stood at more than 2.4m and the number is expected to exceed 5m by June next year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasin formally inaugurated Teletalk’s 3G service one year ago on a test commercial basis, making the state-run operator first in launching the service in Bangladesh.
After the launch, the service covered only some parts of the capital Dhaka.
Later, all divisional cities were brought under the network in a few months. Teletalk’s 3G currently reaches as many as 18 districts of the country.
“We are gradually moving to cover the whole country with our mobile broadband network,” articulated Mujibur Rahman.
Teletalk’s total BTS number has already crossed 3,000 with 10-15 being set up every day now, improving the operator’s network coverage significantly.
Since Teletalk’s 3G service is still in the test commercial run, it has not taken 3G licence yet.
According to the guideline, the operator will require to pay Tk100m as 3G licence fee and Tk160bn for 10 Megahertz spectrum. This spectrum price was set as the auction held in early September.
“The operator will pay the licence fee before the deadline of October 23 (this month). But it won’t be able to deposit the spectrum fee within the stipulated time, which we already informed the government,” said Teletalk boss.
“The government and the regulator (BTRC) will decide on the issue. If we are allowed, we can make the payment in instalments. Otherwise, the government will have to pay the fee.”
Mujibur said Teletalk’s upgraded service is increasing revenue income and profit earning. In the fiscal year 2012-2013, Teletalk’s operating profit rose to Tk1.17bn from Tk650m in the previous year, showed the operator’s data.
Its total revenue stood at Tk6.62bn in the fiscal 2012-13 from Tk3.57bn in 2011-2012 and Tk2.26bn in 2010-2011.
The revenue is expected to exceed Tk10bn by the current fiscal year, said Mujibur Rahman.
