Augere Wireless has started WiMax Internet in Dhaka under banner QUBEE

Augere Wireless has started WiMax Brandband Internet in Dhaka at some selected areas including Motijheel, Gulshan, Baridhara etc. Visit qubee-bd website for more information.

Below are the packages Augere Wireless is offering under banner QUBEE. You should also check the rate in Pakistan (www.qubee.com.pk) with same operator to make a clear comparison.

 

 

QUBEE Bangladesh WiMax Internet Package

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUBEE Pakistan WiMax Internet Package

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

Augere Wireless Launches WiMax on Trial in Dhaka

Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd, one of the two WiMax licensees, launched high-speed broadband internet services yesterday on a trial basis with a focus for commercial operations.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the wireless internet technology, which will initially be launched in some areas of Gulshan and Banani on trial.

WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless digital communication system that can provide broadband wireless access across 30 miles for fixed phone and 3-10 miles for mobile stations.

Three bidders -- BanglaLion Communication, BRAC BD Mail Network Ltd and Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd -- won the WiMax licences through an auction organised by Bangla-desh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in September last year. However, BRAC later refused to take the licence.

The Tk 215 crore bid price had become a 'double bind' for both the telecom regulator and licensees. The regulator extended the deadline for launching WiMax services several times.

UK-based Augere Holdings owns 60 percent of Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd along with two other local companies. Teleport Bangladesh owns 30 percent and Aamra Resources Ltd owns 10 percent in the company.

"Technology must be welcomed, but we should avoid a digital divide. WiMax is a technology that can be availed anywhere," he said.

Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, telecommunication minister, Abul Kalam Azad, information minister, Zia Ahmed, BTRC chairman, and Jerry Mobbs, chief executive officer of Augere Bangladesh, were also present at the launch at the Westin Dhaka.

"The real internet experience is here," said Sanjiv Ahuja, chairman and chief executive officer of Augere Holdings.

Augere Bangladesh is poised to meet demand for the internet using WiMax technology, he said.

Bangladesh, with the lowest internet penetration in the world at 4 percent, will be exposed to high-speed wireless internet by the launch of the WiMax technology. At present, the country has four million internet users.

source: thedailystar.net

Discussion about WiMax in Bangladesh: BanglaLion to start WiMax services soon

BanglaLion is starting WiMax services in Bangladesh from 1st of June, 2009. Now the tension grows,

How will be the service?
What will be the speed? Will it be dedicated?
How much affordable it would be?
Whether it will be available in our area?
What value add it will do in terms of speed, affordability & availability when comparing to existing services (GP/Citycell internet and other Internet services)?

Although the packages have been published, the speed and necessary cost failed to satisfy many of us who were eagerly waiting for its successful operations in the country. Just to reiterate below is the packages,

BanglaLion WiMax Service Package:
1. Home User/Individual for Tk 600/Month
2. Corporate (5-10 users) for Tk 550/Month
3. Corporate (10 users above) for Tk 500/Month
4. Day User (Max 3GB) for Tk 45/Day
5. Night Package (12 AM to 9 AM =9 hrs) for Tk 300/Month

If you want to register, pls click here: http://www.banglalion.com.bd/BDLION/index.php

BanglaLion contact information:

BanglaLion Communications
House # 67, Road # 1, Block # I, Banani
Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh
Phone : (880 2) 8814059-60
Fax : (880 2) 9885647

From their website,

Phone :036-99350033, 036-99350000
Email:
info@banglalion.com.bd
corporate@banglalion.com.bd
dealers@banglalion.com.bd
services@banglalion.com.bd

You can post your comments/feelings/thoughts about WiMax in Bangladesh and recent operations by BanglaLion Communications.

Updates:

31-May-2009:
BanglaLion is not going to start WiMAX from 1st June, it may take 2/3 months more to start officially, this is due to technical issues and setup. However they expect to go with test-run from 1st June.

On the other hand Augere is having frequency issues and then can only start trial after AUgust.

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?

Fiber at Home (Fiber@Home) in Bangladesh

Fiber at Home (Fiber@Home), a new company in Bangladesh to install nationwide internet connection through Fiber to provide high-speed internet service to end-users.

Website: http://www.fiberathome.net

Project doc: http://www.fiberathome.net/q1/fiber@home.pdf

BanglaLion to start WiMax operation from 1st June in Bangladesh

 

Banglalion Communications has officially announced about launching WiMax operations in Bangladesh from 1st of June 2009.

It says on the advertisement on Daily Ittefaq that the minimum speed would be 128 kbps (16.0 KB) up to several Mbps including coporate business offer.

BanglaLion will offer several tariff plans at a minimum 128 kbps speed :

1. Home User/Individual for Tk 600/Month
2. Corporate (5-10 users) for Tk 550/Month
3. Corporate (10 users above) for Tk 500/Month
4. Day User (Max 3GB) for Tk 45/Day
5. Night Package (12 AM to 9 AM =9 hrs) for Tk 300/Month

If you want to register, pls click here: http://www.banglalion.com.bd/BDLION/index.php

Contact of BanglaLion:
I got below one from my previous post,

BanglaLion Communications
House # 67, Road # 1, Block # I, Banani
Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh
Phone : (880 2) 8814059-60
Fax : (880 2) 9885647

Recently from their site,

Phone :036-99350033, 036-99350000
Email:
info@banglalion.com.bd
corporate@banglalion.com.bd
dealers@banglalion.com.bd
services@banglalion.com.bd

I am eagerly waiting to see its services.

This post has been locked for posting comments. Pls follow my new thread to continue discussion on this topic.

Broadband News: Broadband to one third of people of Bangladesh by 2015

Nov 30, 2008

The government hopes to provide internet facilities to 30 percent of the country's population and community-based broadband to all villages by 2015, the chief adviser's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim said on Sunday.

The press aide was briefing reporters after a cabinet meeting which passed the "National Broadband Policy 2008".

Munaim said the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, in consultation with stakeholders, had finalised the policy with 11 clauses and guidelines for broadband to flourish in the country.

"The guidelines reveal that 30 percent of the country's population will be brought under the internet by 2015. All universities, medical colleges, technical universities, research bodies, all ministries, autonomous and non-governmental organisations will have access to the net," he said.

The press secretary also said e-governance facilities would reach Upazila levels by 2012 and all villages by 2015.

"At least one national internet exchange will be set up in each divisional headquarter by 2010," he said.

Munaim said the advisory council meeting, chaired by chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, also finally approved the Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance 2008 and the Vested Property Return (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.

On the latter, the CA's spokesman said a law was enacted in 2001 but not published by gazette resulting in lethargy in implementation.

"A gazette will be published soon in this regard."

The cabinet also approved the merger of BSD and BSRS into BDBL, a public limited company and government Finance and Budget Management Ordinance-2008, Fahim said.

The advisory council further approved the setting-up of the North East Zone Power Distribution Company Limited under the Power Development Board.

The new company with a nine-member board of directors will operate in greater Mymensingh and Sylhet regions, Munaim said.

He said the interim cabinet also approved a draft MOU between Bangladesh and Australia for cooperation on prevention of terrorism. The MOU stipulates that both countries will exchange intelligence reports, meet at policy level and provide technical and specialised training among other measures.

The council of advisers sent a draft policy on private satellite operations back to the concerned ministry for further studies and revisions, Fahim added.

All advisers—except the finance adviser—special assistants to the CA new cabinet secretary M Abul Aziz, and other relevant secretaries.

courtesy: bdnews24.com

Broadband News: BTCL to launch broadband internet by Dec, 2008

Courtesy: bdnews24.com

Nov 13, 2008
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) says it has decided to launch broadband internet service through outsourcing by December.

The BTCL board at a meeting presided over by chairman Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman made the decision on Thursday, the company said in a press statement.

The board also decided on the procurement policy and awarding incentives to the company's staffers.

Broadband News: Land phones with Broadband Line by December, 2008

Dhaka, 2008 Oct 10 - Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited will start connecting land phones with broadband internet connections by December, a senior government official said on Friday.

Telecommunications secretary Iqbal Mahmood told bdnews24.com that internet connections would initially be given to some districts in addition to Dhaka.

Mahmood said 26 telephone exchanges were being prepared for the service.

The state-run company will use Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line or ADSL technology that helps landline users to access phone and internet on the same line, a senior BTCL official said.

The users will have to install a modem costing up to Tk 5,000 for the service.

The speedy internet connection will be available for BTCL phone users at a competitive price.

A BTCL official preferring anonymity said users of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi, Bogra and some other districts would get broadband internet connection initially.

He said the BTCL would charge less than private companies for the service.

Digital phone users can use dial-up internet without any connection fee. It charges Tk 0.10 per minute in off-peak hours and Tk 0.15 during peak hours or Tk 6 and Tk 9 per hour respectively.

BTCL provides digital data network service in 71 areas in 41 districts.

Internet service providers have over 10 lakh subscribers and BTCL has about 30,000 internet users.

Mobile phone and PSTN operators have approximately 50 lakh internet users.

The government is going to allow 170 more private firms to provide internet connections.

 

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.

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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

WIMAX in Bangladesh: Two license holder fail to pay

Courtesy: bdnews24.com

Dhaka, Oct 19 —Two of the three WiMAX licensees have failed to pay the required fees in time, forcing the regulators to extend the deadline by a month.

BTRC Sunday cited the global financial crisis as the reason when it announced the extension of the deadline from Oct 16 to Nov 15.

Brac BDMail Network and M/s BanglaLion Communications will now get this extra time to pay up half the Tk 215 crore fee.

"Considering the global crisis, and taking into account the petitions from the winning bidders, the 10-working day time for depositing half the license fee has been extended to Nov 15," BTRC chairman Manzurul Alam told bdnews24.com.

Losing bidders, however, began complaining.

"If we knew such an opportunity would come, many of us would have offered more money for license," said Syed Masud Kabir, managing director of Mango Teleservices.

The guideline, he said, spoke of 10 working days and no scope for an extension. But, he admitted, the commission reserved the right to amend the guideline.

The BTRC chairman disagreed.

"This is not right. The entire license fee will have to be deposited in 90 days.

"If they fail, other companies in line will get the licenses.

"The global crisis struck immediately after the bidding (on Sept 24)," he said.

The BTRC chief said India too suspended the 3-G licensing process because of the crisis.

The other winning company, Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd, was handed the license Sunday by the BTRC chairman following its payment of the required fee in time, a BTRC statement said.

WIMAX in Bangladesh: Licence for WIMAX has been distributed

Courtesy: bdnews24.com

Three companies, Bangla Lion Communications, Brac Bdmail Network Ltd and Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd, have won licences to operate WiMAX or Broadband Wireless Access in Bangladesh, a BTRC official said Wednesday.

The three firms purchased the licences in auction for Tk 215 crore, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission media consultant Abbas Faruk told bdnews24.com.

The auction started around 11:30 am at the capital's Radisson Hotel and ended around 2:45 pm.

The nine vying for licences were Aguri Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd, Bangla Lion Communications, Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd, Brac Bdmail Network Ltd, Clearstream Ranks (Bd) Ltd, Mango Teleservices Ltd, P-1 Consortium, Telestar Communications Ltd and Vtel Bangla.

Bangla Lion Communications began by offering 27.50 percent of the revenue to the government, before the contest heated up.

The three companies that won will run WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) technology that allows wireless data to travel over long distances by various means, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access.

The chief adviser's special assistant MA Malek, in charge of post and telecommunications, told reporters earlier at the auction venue: "I have come here to observe whether the auction is being held transparently."

On ISPs cutting internet fees for subscribers, MA Malek said: "This is the responsibility of BTRC to regulate. The commission did not have full regulatory powers in the past, but it will get them soon."

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, who will issue the three licenses, has estimated that once WiMAX is functional the number of internet users across the country will cross 1 crore.

[polldaddy poll=1253610]

Sept 11 was the deadline for submission of applications. BTRC, who invited applications in August, said a total 12 bid documents were sold, with nine companies eventually submitting their documents.

Internet service providers had originally asked the government to open up WiMAX licensing to Bangladeshi organisations qualifying on merit.

Mobile operators in Bangladesh and anyone having invested in them were barred from bidding for a BWA license.

The licence acquisition fee, fixed by the BTRC auction, will be supplemented by an annual license fee of Tk 3 crore [BDT 30 million].

According to the licence conditions, the winning companies will set up at least 90 base stations in the first year, and the whole country will have to be brought under WiMAX network within three years.

Foreign investment in the licenced companies should not be more than 60 percent and non resident Bangladeshis are allowed to invest at 70 percent ownership.

The licencees will have to file for initial public offering (IPO) within three years of the issuance of a license, and shall not be allowed to transfer any shares before issuance of the IPO without prior written permission from the commission.

Company Address:

BanglaLion Communications
House # 67, Road # 1, Block # I, Banani, Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh
Phone: (880 2) 8814059-60, Fax: (880 2) 9885647

BRAC BDMail Network Ltd.
HQ & Operations; Kaderia Tower, Floor-12, 13 & 14, ZA-28/8/B, Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka-1212
Phone: (880 2) 9884635, 9884637 Fax: (880 2) 9884587

Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Limited
AQC Towers, 57 Dilkusha C/A, Dhaka-1000
Mobile: +44(0)7801712148 (Damian Reid)
Email: damian.reid@augere.eu

more for Augere at augere.eu

Fred Roeskestraat 123-1
1076 EE Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Second Floor, Berkeley Square House
Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BD
T: +44 (0) 207 887 4580 F: +44 (0) 207 887 4579

Spectrum Distribution (opted by companies):

BanglaLion Communications: 2585 - 2620 MHz

BRAC BDMail Network Limited: 2320 - 2365 MHz

Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh: 2365 - 2400 MHz