BTCL High-Speed Broadband Internet – New Packages

Nov 10, 2009

The number of BTCL customers could not reach even 1,000 though the high-speed broadband internet service was launched seven months ago.

To increase the number of customers, the state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL), has now introduced three new packages and reduced charges for its other packages.

BTCL managing director engineer S M Khairuzzaman regretted that the present strength of BTCL subscribers is below 1,000 though the big cities have the connection capacity for 33,000 high-speed broadband lines.

He told bdnews24.com, “Along with land phones, BTCL, with the objective of giving value added services, has introduced three new packages at reduced prices.”

A meeting of the board of BTRC—the telecom regulatory body—approved the new packages and reduced call charges being introduced by BTCL.

He further claimed that compared with other services, the new BTCL packages would provide scope for downloading data up to two gigabytes with a speed of 128 kbps at Tk 300 only.

“Last April, BTCL introduced its high-speed broadband internet service along with land phone dial-up connections. This internet service is given in five packages under the ‘adsl plus2′ technology,” said the BTCL MD.

BTCL started giving the broadband connections to Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Jessore, Rajshahi, Bogra, Khulna, Barisal and Mymensingh.

An official concerned, preferring not to be named, said, “Because of lack of effective steps for marketing and also the absence of publicity, this service could not earn popularity among customers.”

He said, “Compared with other internet service providers, BTCL’s improved high-speed broadband internet service remained unnoticed by customers.”

If publicity is properly done, BTCL will have a terrific market for its broadband internet service, he observed.

“Though we are offering a qualitatively better broadband service at a competitive price, we are yet to attract customers,” admitted BTCL managing director Khabiruzzaman.

“That is why the new packages have been introduced with reduced charges.”

Under the new pre-paid packages, customers can download 2 gigabytes at a speed of 128 kbps at Tk 300, 8 gigabytes with 256 kbps at Tk 1,200 and 16 gigabytes with one megabyte speed at Tk 2,400. BTCL charges only Tk 500 as registration fee and Tk 600 taka as setup configuration cost.

BTCL has two packages for day and night. For the daytime (from 8am to 8pm), the charge for 128 kbps is Tk 2,100, for 256 kbps the charge is Tk 4,500 and for 2,000 kbps the cost is Tk 6,000—all for a three-month period.

For night-time (8 pm to 8am), the charge is Tk 3,000 for three months for 512 kbps, Tk 4,500 for 1000 kbps and Tk 7,200 for 2,000 kbps.

Registration fee is only Tk 300 for these two packages and Tk 500 is setup configuration charge.

On the other hand, unlimited postpaid connection charges were also reduced, BTCL officials informed.

Under re-fixed rates, the charge is Tk 800 for 128 kbps, Tk 1,200 for 256 kbps and Tk 2,000 for 512 kbps—all for three months.

If any customer pays three months’ charges at a time, a bonus for free internet use will be given for an additional one month.

courtesy: bdnews24.com

3G in Bangladesh

We have been also hearing about 3G in Bangladesh for quite long time by some media sources and seminars on different times, still we are not very sure about its implementation.

3G:

International Telecommunications Union (ITU): IMT-2000 consists of six radio interfaces

W-CDMA also known as UMTS
CDMA2000
TD-CDMA / TD-SCDMA
UWC (often implemented with EDGE)
DECT

3G Considerations:

Speed
Minimum speed of 2 Mbit/s for stationary or walking users, and 348 kbit/s in a moving vehicle

Service
Converged fixed, mobile, voice, data, Internet and multimedia services. One of its key visions is to provide seamless global roaming, enabling users to move across borders while using the same number and handset

Flexibility
Providing a highly flexible system, capable of supporting a wide range of services and applications. The IMT-2000 standard accommodates five possible radio interfaces based on three different access technologies (FDMA, TDMA and CDMA)

Affordability
3G systems had to be affordable, in order to encourage their adoption by consumers and operators

Compatibility
3G has to be compatible with existing systems. 2G systems, such as the GSM standard

Design
3G must be easily expandable in order to allow for growth in users, coverage areas, and new services, with minimum initial investment

More info: http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/imt-2000/technology.html#Cellular Standards for the Third Generation

 

We already have CDMA2000 in the country, Citycell and other PSTN operators are providing mobile broadband services by CDMA2000 technology. For recent few years our mobile phones has also has got the technology of supporting 3G technology, however we are still stuck at the fact of creating guidelines/ policies etc.

When will we actually get this service?

BTRC Chairman Major General Manzurul Alam quits

Feb 10, 2009

BTRC chairman Manzurul Alam has resigned, the telecoms minister said.

Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu told bdnews24.com Tuesday afternoon he had received the letter of resignation from the former major general.

Alam was given the crucial job by the military-controlled caretaker government in April, 2007.

The tough-talking former army Signals officer courted controversy through his handling of the licencing process, and many alleged he failed to follow his own guidelines in awarding lucrative licenses.

Alam, then a brigadier, also served as a director at the spy outfit DGFI in the mid-1990s.

As allegations surfaced of his “unfair dealings” about award of International Internet Gateway (IIG) and WiMAX licences, the BTRC chief was apparently asked to quit to avoid further controversy surrounding the key regulatory agency.

courtesy: bdnews24.com

Guidelines for use of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Technology in Bangladesh

I get to manage the draft guideline below that has been posted in BTRC website. You can have a look.

——————————————————————————————————————-

BANGLADESH TELECOMMUNICATION REGULATORY COMMISSION

Guidelines for use of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Technology in Bangladesh

1. INTRODUCTION:

1.1.    Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (the Commission) has the responsibility under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act 2001 (the Act) to ensure access to reliable and reasonably priced Internet-services for the greater number of people, as far as practicable. With this aim in view, the Commission is considering the use of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Technology for last mile access solutions to open up new possibilities and create enabling situation for greater Internet penetration at an affordable cost.

1.2.    The Commission is hereby providing guidelines for the approved commercial/non-commercial use of the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band frequencies in Bangladesh using the Wi-Fi technology in order to ensure rapid expansion of services and accelerated increase in Internet penetration.

1.3.    These guidelines are to be read subject to the Act and other relevant laws and in conjunction with the respective operators’ license conditions.

1.4.    These guidelines may be withdrawn, revised, updated or amended from time to time, without any prior notice, to take into consideration various factors including but not limited to, any threat to public health, national interest, national security and pursuant to statute or court orders.

2. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES:

2.1.    As per the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2005 (NFAP 2005), spectrum from the ISM band in 2.4000-2.4835 GHz and 5.725-5.875 GHz is allocated for Wi-Fi use.

2.2.    Access to the spectrum will be on shared basis. There will be no exclusive assignment to any individual or organizations, whether for private, public or commercial use.

2.3.    Any Government or Private Organization/Educational Institution/Corporate Body can establish and use Wi-Fi Network on non commercial/non-profit basis.

2.4.    Household/private users are not required to take any permission from the Commission or pay any levy/charge for using Wi-Fi in the given ISM band.

2.5.    Both indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi is permitted in the given spectrum of ISM band. However, the maximum power output for the Wi-Fi equipment is limited to 1 watt.

2.6.    All commercial Wi-Fi Hotspot operators/service providers shall possess an ISP or equivalent License (e.g., BWA License). Existing operators having such License from the Commission will be eligible to establish Wi-Fi network for providing last mile solution.

2.7.    Operators/service providers will submit a detailed list of Wi-Fi outdoor Hotspots to the Commission. There will be levy/charges applicable annually for all hotspots. The levy/charge shall be charged as per the Rate List published by the Commission.

2.8.    All service providers will obtain permission in the form of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Commission for importation, deployment, use and providing any service with Wi-Fi equipment. Guideline for Application and Application form is available at http://www.btrc.gov.bd. Existing ISM band operators who wish to adapt their present Wi-Fi equipment for the same purpose may also be provided permission from the Commission on case by case basis.

2.9.    All vendors in possession of “Dealer Possession And Radio Communication Equipment Vendor License” issued by the Commission are eligible to apply for NOC for importation and marketing of Wi-Fi equipment in Bangladesh.

2.10.The Commission reserves the right to cancel the permission if any complication arises anytime.

Link: here