With the promise of high-speed internet connectivity at an affordable cost, the country’s two existing WiMax operators have geared up to secure greater market penetration in the years to come.
Equipped with advanced 4G technology, the WiMax operators are determined to sustain their already achieved success and intensify service operation. “We are focusing to expand our service network at every corner of the country, targeting addition of more users to our network,” GM Farukh Khan, head of marketing and communication of Banglalion Communications Ltd, told The Independent.
With a different strategy, Qubee, the other operating WiMax service provider, is looking to intensify its service quality, instead of going for ground coverage.
“We are not looking to be everywhere with weak service quality. Instead, we want to be the best at wherever we are,” Sayed Ashiqur Rahman, Qubee’s head of Brand and Communications, explains business strategy of his company. Though in different style, both the companies are promised to rock the broadband service industry by next year. WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a communication technology for wireless delivery of high-speed internet service to large geographical areas. It is part of a “fourth generation,” or 4G, of wireless communication technology.
Bangladesh Tele-communication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in 2008 issued WiMax licence to four applicants. Two of them — Qubee and Banglalion — managed to begin operation at the end of 2009. But BRAC BD and state-run BTCL, the two other companies that have received WiMax licence at the time,
are unlikely to start operation in near future.
Despite their offer of advanced 4G wireless broadband internet services, subscribers’ rate for WiMax remained even less than 1 per cent of the country’s total 20 million internet users, BTRC source said.
At present, the country’s 94 per cent internet users depend on services offered by the mobile phone operators, WiMax operators have promised to accelerate growth.
Within just over a year and half of the first appearance, Banglalion have already expanded operation to 33 districts, connecting about 200,000 users across the country, GM Farukh Khan said.
“By the end of 2012, each corner of the country is expected to come under our network coverage,” he disclosed his company’s expansion plan.
Offer of high-speed wireless broadband internet service at affordable cost is the prime marketing strategy of Banglalion, he said.
Qubee plans to grow in terms of quality, giving geographical coverage.
Explaining his company’s achievements so far, Sayed Ashiqur Rahman said, “Qubee leads the market in bringing the end price down. It is the first company to offer double speed at no additional cost.”
The pioneering endeavour will continue in the days to come, he added.
Qubee has 25 full-fledged customer care centres in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet where every internet related solutions are available.
“Our future business strategy is to be the best with our innovative and user-friendly services to whatever the number joins our network,” Rahman added.
-With The Independent input
