Robi offers more than 3G

Mobile phone operator Robi Axiata Limited has announced its preparedness to launch 3.5G services by next month.

Michael Kuehner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Robi Axiata, made the announcement at a media briefing, held at a city hotel on Tuesday.

Kuehner said the company will draw on the international roll-out expertise of parent group Axiata, which is providing 3 G and LTE services across Asia, to ensure best 3.5G content and experience for its customers.

He said Robi will have a limited 3.5G service launch in October, 3013. “This is a new technology for all of us and our priority is a quality customer experience rather than just a speedy execution,” the CEO said.

He stated that the Robi expects to provide it to incrementally selected areas of Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla and Sylhet districts by the end of the year.

During his presentation at the press briefing, the Robi CEO explained that 35% of the population will be covered by the first quarter of 2014.

“3.5G technology is vital for the economic growth and development of Bangladesh in a host of different sectors – from education to health to commerce,” said Kuehner.

“In receiving this license for Robi, we are embracing the mobile data revolution, expanding the country’s data services and enhancing capacity, aimed at improving the lives of the people as they connect with each other and the rest of the world. Not only does the license further bolster Robi’s robust and high-performing data services, but it also complements our existing state-of-the-art network that currently offers the widest, most reliable and highest quality coverage across the country,” he said.

Replying to a question Chief Financial Officer, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said Robi subscribers will get the 3.5G service free of cost in their existing SIM.

In reply to another question, he said the company have paid of around  Tk 525 crore to the BTRC on Tuesday, which is almost 60 percent of fees for 5MHZ of 3G spectrum.

Robi Axiata Ltd on Sunday acquired 5 MHz of 3G-spectrum in an auction arranged by BTRC. The spectrum, which is part of the 2100 MHz-band, will enable Robi to further expand and develop its position in the market with innovative data packages via 3.5G-platform.