I have to travel quite a lot due to the nature of my job and sometimes I can enjoy home office from Bangladesh. However, to do this properly, I need a moderately fast internet connection. I am working for Mobile network domain which directs me to choose wireless internet instead of traditional cable based connections.

Let’s have a look at the current scenario in Bangladesh wireless internet industry now!

In a nutshell, there are options for me to go either GPRS/EDGE (General packet radio service/Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) based operators i.e. current GSM system, which is providing data rate up to 59.2 Kbps/slot at highest MCS-9 (EDGE, Modulation and Coding scheme or MCS is a measure of data rates depending on radio condition, in EDGE it is started from MCS-1 of 8.8 Kbps/slot to MCS-9 of 59.2 Kbps/slot whereas for GPRS it is Coding scheme, CS-1 of 8 Kbps/slot to CS-4 of 20 Kbps/slot) and this data rate in most of the time impractical due to the highly dense urban terrain nature in Bangladeshi cities. If we think practical, based on the cell coverage (based on the tower location) in Dhaka city it is around MCS-3 to MCS-6 with an upper bound of 29.6 Kbps/Slot. On the other hand one operator is providing different package of 150-300Kbps based on CDMA technology with dongle which is fair enough and can be also achieved by EDGE operators if they use 5 -10 time slots, but this is almost impossible to get such system resources during the working time in Dhaka city as Circuit switched voice calls are also high and get the higher priority flags due to immediate revenue. So, these are more or less the data service scenario in Bangladesh wireless market currently with 2G technology provided by the big players.

There is some 4th Generation- WiMax of IEEE806.16e standard based operators. They are offering 512 Kbps to 2 Mbps speed package with a very good experience in the coverage region, but one can easily see that very few areas are covered even in the city area’s through their website with coverage map. If these companies invest continuously with high rate then with certain period they can offer definitely good coverage. But, it is obvious that huge roll-out of telecommunication equipments need continuous flow of huge investment, time, good technical in-house expertise as well as selected vendors R&D (research and development) investment towards the technology with current trends to WiMax internationally. I personally wish these WiMax operators have planned well so that they can provide good mobile broadband services to us within 2015 onwards. So, far the WiMax operators are using 10 MHz spectrum bandwidth in selected carrier frequency allocated form Bangladesh Telecommunication regulatory commission (BTRC) and if we consider peak rate extract from this is around 40 Mbps (considering 10 MHz carrier, using advanced antenna techniques like Multiple input & multiple output or MIMO & full use of sub-carriers) but as stated earlier that radio condition plays an important role in the data rate so, I would expect around 30 Mbps. Current telecommunication operator business is very challenging and in that sense huge roll-out with large investment is difficult for a new operator’s.

There are two streams in 4G technology, one is standardized by IEEE is already mentioned i.e. WiMaX. Now, if we look at 3GPP(3rd Generation partnership project)- 4G technology which is well known as Release 8 or LTE (Long term evolution) is the smooth migration path for other 3GPP standards like GSM, UMTS/HSPA or non-3GPP standards like CDMA or WiMax technology is driving the market currently. Most of the major operators worldwide are deploying LTE for solving the current as well as future mobile broadband data requirements. LTE is incorporating all the latest technological advancements and features throughout its network architecture and necessary equipments so that operator can select their best possible scenarios to meet their requirements. In a summery, LTE and its future advancement provides best spectrum efficiency, lowest bits/cost compare to any other existing technology available in the market and at the same time provides a wider selection of frequency range from many unused or merely used existing frequency bands. So, this could be a good chance for Government to utilize the unused frequency bands and provide independent LTE license to the interested operators for helping the data growth in Bangladesh market.

The major driver for any efficient technology to grow and full utilization depends on the right R&D investments and necessary implementation bodies commitments. If we look at the 4G-LTE technology then we can see that already 285 major operators in 93 countries investing in LTE, there is 226 commercial LTE network commitments in 76 countries, 59 pre-commercial trails in additional 29 countries and 49 commercial LTE networks in 29 countries till to date. Also, it is predicted to be 119 LTE networks in 53 countries to be in commercially operated by the end of 2012. And in the commercial network deployment list there is Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, UAE, Uruguay, USA, and Uzbekistan (Source: GSA). India is also having LTE trails in early 2011 and now there is commercial network in their many states. So, LTE is not a fancy technology in the book anymore that was the concern in 2007 but it's a reality and ultimate mobile broadband solution now a days.

Source : http://www.gsacom.com/news/gsa_344.php4

Concerned people may argue why we need LTE now? In today’s communication world no one argues about the mobile broadband data rate demands due to the high Smartphone penetrations , laptop’s aggressive data growth and in a country like Bangladesh where there is a huge potential for offshore works from developed countries i.e. data entry task, software developments etc. And it is clear that, current wireless data service operators with their existing technology or fixed line broadband is not able to meet the demands. So, in that scenario it is evident that we need an efficient mobile broadband system and LTE is the number one in the list to choice. WiMax is an equal technology but globally its demand is decreasing due to the huge success and selection of LTE. Also, if we compare a WiMax operator in Bangladesh which are mostly Greenfield or new operator and that’s why it is time consuming for them to cover all the country in seamless mobile broadband connectivity region. But, 3GPP based operators can migrate from 2G-GSM technology to directly 4G-LTE technology step by step process to keep the circuit switched voice calls in GSM layer and data services in LTE layer in a synchronized co-existing network and that can be done more faster way due to their existing infrastructure. There is talk in the telecommunication market in Bangladesh that 3G or UMTS is coming and operators are making themselves ready for the 3G auction led by Government. In 3G, technology up-gradation path is Release 99 to HSPA (high speed packet access) to HSPA+ that means mature 3G operators are migrating to HSPA+ which is around 20% less spectrally efficient than the current LTE spectrum efficiency. And, also HSPA+ is moving to flat network architecture similar to LTE for enabling a smooth migration path from 3G to LTE network. So, why we are looking back to adopt 3G network now and after some year move to LTE eventually, when rest of the world is moving towards LTE directly either from 3G or 2Gmobile network. One can also ask about the LTE readiness of the mobile terminals and it is evident now a day that vendors can provide the dongles for computer or laptop connectivity in the deployed frequency bands and every now and then the mobile manufacturers are releasing their LTE compatible mobile handsets.

Internationally Governments are deciding to deploy LTE technology for the betterment of peoples as well as to keep sustainable business related to this technology. So, Bangladesh Government should think of the benefits of future proof technology to deploy in Bangladesh for the fast development of country and its people. Also, major operators also have their chance to become the number one in LTE market in Bangladesh as well as commit to their social responsibility while opening new business opportunity. Basically to deploy LTE is a win-win situation for the all entities involved. For many country related issues, we always make a late decision which keeps us behind in this fast moving world.

Let’s take a quick decision this time!

Mohammad Nur-A-Alam
Mobile Broadband Expert
Espoo, Finland.
[email protected]