Live Correspondent: The 5G service will be launched in the capital Dhaka in December next on an experimental basis. It may be formally launched on Digital Bangladesh Day on December 12, or on Victory Day on December 16. The government-owned telecom operator Teletalk will introduce 5G technology in the country, said Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar said on Saturday.

"Besides, private mobile operators will start the service from 2022," The minister was speaking at a webinar, titled "5G Ecosystem in Bangladesh and Upcoming Technologies," organized by Telecom Reporters' Network, Bangladesh (TRNB).

Mustafa Jabbar said Teletalk will launch the 5G service on an experimental basis this year. It will be expanded next year, and 5G frequency will be auctioned for other telecom operators next year. As a result, other operators will be able to launch the 5G service next year.

The Telecommunication Minister said 5G service would mainly be used in the country's trade, business, and industry. "We will also pay our attention to it. BTCL (Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited ) has been asked to be prepared for providing 5G service to five special economic zones (SEZs)," he said.

BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder was present at the discussion as a special guest.

Besides, BTRC's Commissioner and 5G Policy Formulation and Implementation Committee Chairman AKM Shahiduzzaman, Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) President Erik Aas, Grameenphone Ltd's CEO Yasir Azman, Robi Axiata Limited's Chief Financial Officer Riyaaz Rasheed, Huawei Bangladesh's Chief Operating Officer Tao Guangyao, and Ericsson Bangladesh Country Manager Abdus Salam took part in the discussion. TNRB president Rashed Mehedi moderated the discussion.

Speaking at the discussion, Md Shahab Uddin, Managing Director of Teletalk, said they are taking preparation to launch the 5G service on an experimental basis in Dhaka by December next. The service will be initially offered at 200 sites in Dhaka city, he said.

Placing a paper on 5G service, the TRNB's general secretary Samir Kumar Dey said different countries of the world are providing 5G service at an average speed of 10GBPS. "This speed will be upgraded to 100GBPS by 2026," he said.

Dhaka, 25 September (campuslive24.com)//BIT