The country is stepping into the 5G era next Sunday with Teletalk inaugurating experimental 5G test services in five areas across the country.
“Bangladesh is going to enter the 5G technology regime from December 12 since only a few countries across the globe have entered the technology,” said Posts and Telecommunications Division Minister Mustafa Jabbar.
However, the 5G network will not be available for everyone at this moment. To make it available, the authorities concerned will go for auction on March next for all mobile operators.
The spectrum department of BTRC has already allotted 60 megahertz (MHz) spectrum to Teletalk, a state-owned telecom company, on a refundable condition to launch 5G service as per the directive of the government.
Shahab Uddin, Managing Director of Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd said, “This initiative is important for the future of Bangladesh and in building a digital society underpinned by 5G networks. Our ongoing collaboration and partnership with Nokia are key to us delivering a state-of-the-art network and delivering superior communications services to our customers.”
Nokia has been selected by Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd (Teletalk) to deploy a 5G network in the country. The deal supports the government’s digital agenda to drive automation, digitalization, and Industry 4.0 in Bangladesh underpinned by 5G.
The new network will drive faster speeds, lower latency, and reliability and support the intelligent transformation of industries including education and healthcare.
Senior Vice President of Radio Access Networks PLM at Nokia, Mark Atkinson said, “We are delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with Teletalk and take it into the 5G era. Teletalk and the Bangladeshi government have broad ambitions to drive societal change through a foundation of 5G networks. The network expansion and modernization initiative will help Teletalk attract new subscribers in the rural region and reduce churn in the urban areas. Our global experience will enable Teletalk to offer enhanced customer experience to its subscribers."
Chinese technology company Huawei is providing the necessary service in this regard.
Huawei Technologies Bangladesh Director (Marketing) SM Nazmul Hassan said, “We have already shown the possibilities of 5G through our demonstration back in 2018 and 2020. Now we are going to get a commercial 5G network.”
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In the 5G experiment, the network will be available at four points in the capital city and two points in other cities. These spots are the Prime Minister’s Office, National Parliament, Dhanmondi 32, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Tungipara, National Martyrs' Memorial at Savar.
Teletalk users of these areas will be able to experience the 5G network. Teletalk will bring 200 more points across the country under the 5G network.
Shahab Uddin, Managing Director of Teletalk Bangladesh in this regard said, “As 5G is now conducting experimentally, through this we will be able to see the speed, download speed, and others. But to make it available for all we need fiber connection, 5G enabled handsets, high level spectrum, and support of NTTN besides mobile operators”.