Three companies, Bangla Lion Communications, Brac Bdmail Network Ltd
and Aguri Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd, have won the licences to
operate WiMAX or Broadband Wireless Access in Bangladesh at a total
cost of Tk. 6.35 billion.
The companies were awarded the licenses as they emerged as the first
threes highest bidders in an auction organised at a city hotel
Wednesday by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
(BTRC).
A total of nine companies participated in the auction, which started
around 11:30 am at the capital's Radisson Hotel and ended at around
2:45 pm.
The bidding, starting at Tk. 250 million, came to a conclusion when
no higher offer was made by any other participant against the bid of
Tk. 2.15 billion made by BanglaLion Communications.
BRAC BDMail Network Limited was the second highest bidder of the day
when the company made their bid at Tk. 2.125 billion.
Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Limited with the fourth highest
bid of Tk. 2.075 emerged the third choice as the third highest bid of
Tk. 2.1 billion was offered by the same highest bidder BanglaLion
Communications.
BanglaLion Communications, the topmost bidder chose 2585-2620 MHz as
their preferred bandwidth from the offered spectrum while BRAC BDMail
Network Limited opted for the 2320- 2365 MHz range. Augere Wireless
Broadband Bangladesh Limited was awarded the 2365-2400 MHz bandwidth.
Terming the occasion as an epoch-making step, Special Assistant to
Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications M. A.
Malek stressed on educating people about the advantages and proper
utilization of WiMax technology.
"It must be ensured that the advantages of the lower cost of
bandwidth reaches the people at the grassroots," he told a gathering
of reporters on the eve of the event.
"This step would ensure increasing competition in the country's
telecommunication market, resulting in the wider availability of
higher speed internet connection even among the rural people,"
Chairman of BTRC Manzurul Alam told the reporters following the
bidding.
"At the same time, the government would also be benefited by the
significant increase in revenue from this sector," he observed.
The licenses will initially be for a term of 15 years. On expiry of
the tenure, the licence may be renewed for subsequent terms, each of
five years in duration, subject to the approval from the commission
and other such conditions, including the payment of fees specified by
the commission.
The annual license fee will be Tk 30 million and the licensees will
have to submit a bank guarantee equivalent to Tk 150 million each in
favour of the BTRC within 15 days from the date of issue of the
license.
WiMAX; a wireless digital communications system intended for
wireless "metropolitan area networks, can provide broadband wireless
access up to 30 miles (50 km) for fixed stations, and 3 to 10 miles
(5-15 km) for mobile stations.
The WiMAX technology is expected to boost greatly the current
internet infrastructure in the country. All the government and non-
government institutions, universities, medical colleges,
technological research centres, ministries, educational boards and
many other organisations are expected to benefit from WiMAX as it
will provide data and telecommunications services, and also a
wireless alternative to cable for broadband access.
Once fully functional, WiMax is expected to provide a very high-speed
broadband internet service to all fractions of the society. It is
also expected that WiMAX would be able to bridge the existing digital
divide.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SB: Home of the Bangladeshi Teens & Youths
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-> Official Website: http://www.ShadeshiBondhu.com
-> Group's short url: http://Group.ShadeshiBondhu.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SB: Friends' Family
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
__,_._,___
