Thursday, July 23, 2009

Augere launches WiMAX in Bangladesh


Bangladeshi start-up Augere Wireless Broadband yesterday launched 2.3GHz WiMAX internet services on a trial basis in the Gulshan and Banani areas of Dhaka. Targeting a subscriber base of three million in the country within three years, Augere Wireless Broadband is owned by UK-based broadband infrastructure developer Augure (60%, which also holds WiMAX spectrum in Pakistan and Uganda), in partnership with two domestic firms, Teleport Bangladesh( former Sheba Telecom) (30%) and Aamra networks (10%). Augere's launch comes ahead of another licence winner in Bangladesh's September 2008 WiMAX auction, BanglaLion Communications, which had planned to debut commercial services last month before postponing its launch due to technical issues. Incumbent fixed line operator Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL) has also revealed plans to launch WiMAX services in August.


In Bangladesh, alike Pakistan and Uganda , Augere will continue with their brand "QUBEE" (http://www.qubee.com.bd/) for speedy wireless broadband service. Ex-PakTel CEO, Mr. Jerry Mobbs has been assigned as CEO for the Augere Bangladesh Project. Augere Holdings is founded by ex-orange chief Mr. Sanjib Ahuja who has vast experience in telecommunication business in europe, middle-east & africa and currently acting as the Chairman & the CEO of Augere holdings said, "The real internet experience is here".


Now it's matter to see who will print his first footsteps in this very soft-clay as we have been seen that the first operators in Bangladesh enjoys the cream of revenue finally. Also we must keep in our mind that this huge telecom infrastructure need to be make financially viable for the investors by us, the general people of the country. So, my hope that the wimax operators should not expose the pressure of the ROI upon us.




[Source: PriMetrica, Inc.]

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Country's first-ever WiMax technology "Augere" launched; Muhith criticizes BTRC for failure to play facilitator's role (Source: TMCnet)

Dhaka, Jul 21, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) --
Finance Minister AMA Muhith Tuesday criticized the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for its failure to play the role of facilitator in providing the required services to the entrepreneurs of the telecommunications sector.
"BTRC should play its role as a regulatory body, not as a controller. It should provide the latest services to the entrepreneurs of the telecommunications sector", he said. Muhit was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the country?s first-ever wireless broadband technology 'Augere' at a city hotel in the evening.
Post and Tele Communications Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Raju and Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad were also present at the function organized by Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Limited with Augere Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Ahuja in the chair.Speaking on the occasion, Muhith urged the entrepreneurs of the telecommunications sector to reach the digital communications system to the doorsteps of the rural people.The Finance Minister hoped that the Wimax technology will be available at every divisional headquarters within a year. Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad said Augere Bangladesh is poised to fulfill the demand for Internet connections using WiMAX technology. "Its understanding of the market and technology will help it play a positive supporting part in realizing the vision of Digital Bangladesh." Raziuddin Ahmed Raju said the government is trying to make the Internet technology available in every upazila.Sanjiv Ahuja said, "It has been only a few months since Augere successfully bid for a WiMAX license in this vibrant and dynamic country, and I'm delighted to say that today our pilot network is operational in some selected areas of Dhaka."
WiMAX is a technology which provides wireless transmission of data using a variety of transmission modes, from point-to-multipoint links, up to portable and fully mobile internet access. The technology supports peak download rates of up to 46Mbps and peak uplink rates of up to 14 Mbps. Augere, set up in September 2007, currently has access to spectrum in Pakistan and Uganda. Augere's modems will hit the market in November next.

[Source: TMCNews; Link: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/07/21/4284614.htm]

Thursday, July 16, 2009

BTRC cuts the Internet charges upto 33%.

Thu, Jul 16th, 2009 10:06 pm BdST
[Source: BDNEWS24.COM; Link: http://www.bdnews24.com/bangla/details.php?cid=8&id=54055&hb=2]

Dhaka, July 16, (BDNEWS24.COM)
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to decrease the bandwidth fee and backhaul fee of Submarine cable.
So, the internet bandwidth charges will be less upto 33 percent.
Last Thursday BTRC informs this in a press release.

Also they inform that, it has been decided that monthly per megabits per seconds internet bandwidth charge will be BDT 18000 only instead of previous BDT 27000.
Also Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company has decreased its wet segment bandwidth upto 10 percent. For Internet access, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) also reduces their internal backhaul service charge.

BTRC informs, to reach the telecommunication service specially the internet
service towards the remote region of the country BTRC took this decision after
discussing with ministry, goverment & non-government Internet Service
Providers (ISP).

BTRC Chairman Retd. Brigadier General Zia Ahmed says, "during the period of submarine cable connected to our country the price of the bandwidth was too high. Now after reducing the price upto BDT 18000, operators can utilize more bandwidth and provide the service to their subscribers in cheap rate."
Also he hopes that it will increase the internet users in the country.
BTRC also informs, after reviewing the effect of current price on the internet packages of the ISPs and mobile operators due to this price reduction, they will give their next instructions.

Mr. Monowar Hossain, the Managing Director of Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited says, "ISP Operators should take initiative so that the people can enjoy the benefit due to this price reduction."

Bangladesh is connected with SEA-ME-WE-4 Submarine Cable Consortium. The allocated bandwidth for Bangladesh is 24 Gigabits/second. But currently only 8 Gigabits/second is used. Complaining for the high price of bandwidth, most of the ISPs and others are not interested to purchase more bandwidth which is the main reason that the subscribers are getting slow internet service.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Mango Refused WiMAX ! ! !

At last Mango Tele Services, the only private IIG has refused (!) the BWA or WiMAX license. From reliable source, we have been informed that Mango Teleservices has failed to paid the required amount of money inspite of having a long period from BTRC. Now, there are two companies having wimax license in their hand, counting the minimum days remaining to start their operations. This situation will make the competition more easier in absence of Mango. Meanwhile, Banglalion has failed to launch their Wimax services on 1st of July, 2009 as they declared. Also there is no other notifications from BTRC about their service or another wimax license. Now BTRC is working on the new IPTSP (IP Telephony Service Provider) license awarding process. In this regards, the experts of BTRC has visited some of the ISP premises for survey and inspection. Hope fully, this IPTSP license will create new life in ISP businesses. Also the Wimax Operators will enjoy the IPTSP license from the begining. So, the scenario will be really very fruitful for the subscribers of Bangladesh. In other hand, the license holders of 3.5 GHz licensed frequency and another operator who is having 700 MHz - are moving very slowly as we are watching. Also Augere Broadband is trying to develop its' perfect and financially feasible network planning whereas Banglalion has started PSTN operation named SUNTEL. But the people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting for Wimax services. Hopefully we can avail it very soon.