Teletalk to Get Bangladesh’s First 3G License

Bangladesh’s state-owned mobile network, Teletalk is to get a headstart over the private networks with its 3G network and will launch its services before the other networks are granted a license. The regulator, the BTRC will issue licenses on demand, but Teletalk will get priority.

"This 3G networks will be developed with Chinese assistance and users will get services at prices lower than India," Telecommunication Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju told reporters at a press conference.

The minister said the government is now in talks with the Chinese government to borrow US$211 million to upgrade Teletalk's network infrastruture.

The country has been promising to award 3G licenses since 2008, although political issues with the transition of the government was held responsible for most of the delay.

"It is estimated that there are over 6 million mobile internet users and already today 15 percent of the mobile handsets used in Bangladesh market are 3G enabled," Arun Bansal, managing director of the Ericsson Bangladesh said last May.

The country currently has six operators - and according to figures from the Mobile World, ended Q1 of this year with just over 55 million mobile subscribers - which is still a population penetration level of around 35%. Also worth noting is that while the country has six operators, only four of them are of any significant scale, Grameenphone (23.9m), Banglalink (14.2m) and Aktel (11.8m) and finally, Warid Telecom (2.9m). The two remaining long term incumbents, Citycell and Teletalk add up to 2.9 million customers between them.