Majority of the mobile phone companies, which won the 3G spectrum auction on Sunday, will not be able to ensure the service quality as they bought lower amount of spectrum, said Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory chairman Sunil Kanti Bose.
‘Most operators took 5MHz spectrum each which will not be sufficient for them to ensure proper service quality for 3G services,’ Sunil said in a press briefing after the 3G auction on the day.
In the much-talked-about 3G auction leading operator Grameenphone took 10MHz with $210 million, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel took 5 MHz each with $105 million an operator.
‘For Banglalink and Robi it will not be possible to ensure the service quality in 3G service with 5MHz spectrum considering their subscriber-base,’ Sunil said.
He said the Airtel might be able to ensure the service as its subscriber-base is small.
Leading operator GP has 4.46 crore subscribers, Banglalink 2.73 crore, Robi 2.37 crore and Airtel 78.97 lakh subscribers.
‘We will go tough about the service quality in the 3G operations of the operators. I don’t know if they have thought about any alternative to ensure the service quality,’ Sunil said.
Robi’s chief executive officer Michael Kuehner in a statement said, ‘Our bid was based on an exhaustive process that included a detailed study of the business case for the 5MHz spectrum, learning from similar experience amongst Axiata OpCos such as Idea and consultation with the Group.’
‘We also firmly believe that the quality of our services and innovative products will continue to delight our valued customers,’ he said.
A senior official of Banglalink, however, said ensuring service quality with 5 MHz spectrum would not be a problem.
‘Firstly, all of the customers will not use the 3G services. Secondly, we are hoping to get some other bands within two or three years which will help us to support the subscribers,’ he said.
Grameenphone chief executive officer Vivek Sood in a statement said, ‘We are happy to get the spectrum to launch 3G. Grameenphone will bring the 3G services to it valued customer at fastest possible time, ensuring the high quality for which GP is known for.’
According to the 3G guideline the four companies have to deposit 60 per cent of the auction winning price in taka or equivalent US dollar within 30 working days from the auction result notification and remaining 40 per cent in 180 days.
It also says the licence acquisition fees of Tk 10 crore will have to be paid within 30 days from auction result notification date and the performance bank guarantee period will be for 3.5 years. BTRC notified the result on Sunday evening.
The operators will get the licences for 15 years with an option to launch 4G and LTE services.
-With New Age input
