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4. [http://www.bdhub.com '''bdHUB Limited.''']
4. [http://www.bdhub.com '''bdHUB Limited.''']


5. [http://www.aamra.com.bd '''Aamra Technologies Limited.''']
5. [http://www.aamra.com.bd ''' [[Aamra Companies]] ''']


6. [http://www.level3carrier.com '''Level3 Carrier Limited.''']
6. [http://www.level3carrier.com '''Level3 Carrier Limited.''']

Revision as of 11:04, 29 June 2014

The liberalisation of Bangladesh’s telecommunications sector began with small steps in 1989 with the issuance of a licence to a private operator for the provision of inter alia cellular mobile services to compete with the previous monopoly provider of telecommunications services the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB). Significant changes in the number of fixed and mobile services deployed in Bangladesh occurred in the late 1990s and the number of services in operation have subsequently grown exponentially in the past five years.

The incentives both from government and public sectors have helped to grow this sector.It is now one of the biggest sector of Bangladesh. As a populous country, its huge market has attracted many foreign investors to invest in this sector

Telecommunication

The telecom sector in Bangladesh is rapidly emerging. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is the regulatory authority for this sector, overseeing licensing, policy etc.

Calling Code: +880 – SubCodes

History

Landmarks in the history of telecom industry in Bangladesh[1]

  • 1853 : Telegraph branch under Posts and Telegraph Department, British India.
  • 1971 : Reconstructed as Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Department under Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
  • 1975 : Reconstructed as Telegraph and Telephone Board.
  • 1979 : Reconstructed as Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) with right to issue license for telecom and wireless services.
  • 1981 : Digital Telex Exchange in Bangladesh.
  • 1983 : Automatic Digital ITX started in Dhaka.
  • 1985 : Coinbox Telephone service introduced in Bangladesh by BTTB.
  • 1989 : GENTEX Telegraph messaging service introduced in Bangladesh.
  • 1989 : Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority got license to operate exchanges in 200 upazilla.
  • 1989 : Sheba Telecom got license to operate exchange is 199 upazilla.
  • 1989 : Cellular mobile phone company Pacific Bangladesh Telephone Limited and Bangladesh Telecom got license.
  • 1995 : Card Telephone service introduced in Bangladesh by BTTB and TSS.
  • 1995 : Regulatory power of BTTB transferred to Ministry (MoPT).
  • 1995 : 2nd and 3rd ITX installed in Dhaka.
  • 1996 : GrameenPhone got cellular mobile Telephone license.
  • 1996 : Telecom Malaysia International Bangladesh got cellular mobile license.
  • 1998 : Telecom Policy.
  • 2000 : Global Telecom Service (GTS) Telex Exchange venture with British Teleco.
  • 2001 : Telecommunication Act, to establish Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
  • 2002 : ICT Policy.
  • 2004 : Teletalk cellular mobile launched.
  • 2005 : Egypt-based Orascom acquired Sheba Telecom
  • 2006 : NGN[disambiguation needed] introduced in BTTB.
  • 2008 : BTTB converted into Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) with 100% shares owned by Government. The Submarine Cable Project transformed into Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL)
  • 2008 : Japanese NTT DoCoMo bought 30 percent stake in Aktel
  • 2009 : Bharti Airtel acquired 70 percent stake in Warid Telecom
  • 2009 : Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP) Operators launched.
  • 2012 : 3G mobile service is introduced by state owned Teletalk in October.[2][3]

Structure

File:BD telco-1.jpg
Bangladesh Telecom Network Topology

As defined in the National Telecommunications Policy 1998 and International Long Distance Telecommunications Services (ILDTS) Policy 2007, all mobile operators is to interconnect through Interconnection Exchange (ICX) and all international calls to be handled by International Gateway (IGW) which is to be connected to the mobile and fixed operators through the ICXs.

The Interconnection Exchange (ICX) will receive all calls from the mobile and fixed operators whenever the call is made to other network and will pass it to the destination network if the call is local, and will pass to the IGWs if the call is international. ICX will also deliver calls received from IGWs where the call is destined.[4]

Below illustrate the structure of interconnection between different interfaces.

PSTN

The PSTN or fixed operators in Bangladesh are:

The number of PSTN subscribers in Bangladesh as of February 2009 was 1.372 million.[5]

Mobile phone operators

There are 6 mobile phone operators in Bangladesh. These are:

1. Airtel Bangladesh Ltd. Branded as Airtel, formerly known as Warid Telecom

2. Grameenphone/Telenor Bangladesh Ltd.: Branded as Grameenphone

3. Orascom Telecom Ltd.: Branded as Banglalink

4. Pacific Bangladesh Telephone Ltd.: Branded as Citycell

5. Axiata Bangladesh Ltd: Branded as Robi

6. Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd.: Branded as Teletalk

The number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh as of February 2009 was 45.21 million.,[6] rising to 99.87 million at the end of March 2013.[7]

Long distance operators (as per ILDTS Policy 2007)

On February 25, 2008 the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for two Interconnection Exchanges (ICX), three International Gateways (IGw), and one International Internet Gateway (IIG) to six firms through an open auction in February 2008. The incumbent BTTB got the same licenses too. And after then On April 12, 2012 the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for twenty one Interconnection Exchanges (ICX), twenty two International Gateways (IGw), and thirty International Internet Gateway (IIG)Here is the list of all operators:

International Gateway (IGW) operators

1. Mir Telecom

2. Bangla Trac Communications Limited

3. Bangladesh International Gateway Limited

4. BG Tel Limited

5. BTCL

6. Cel Telecom Limited

7. DBL Telecom Limited

8. DigiCon Telecommunications Limited

9. First Communications Limited (FirstCom)

10. Global Voice Telecom Limited

11. Kay Telecommunications Limited

12. 1Asia Alliance Gateway Limited

13. Mos5 Tel Ltd

14. Novotel Limited

15. Ratul Telecom Limited

16. Roots Communication

17. SM Communication Limited

18. Telex Limited

19. Unitrac Communications Limited

20. Vision Tel Ltd

21. [1]

22. Sigma Engineers Limited

23. Platinum Communications Ltd.

24. HRC Technologies Ltd (HRCIGW).

25. Bestec Telecom Ltd.

26. Venus Telecom Ltd.

27. Hamid Sourcing Limited.

Interconnection Exchange (ICX) operators
  1. Bangla Telecom Ltd
  2. BTCL
  3. Bangla ICX Ltd.
  4. Agni ICX
  5. Bantel
  6. CloudTel
  7. GAZI Networks Ltd
  8. GETCO ICX
  9. Imam Network Ltd.
  10. Jibondhara ICX
  11. MMCommunicatinos
  12. M & H
  13. MicroTrade
  14. Mother Telecom
  15. New Generation Telecom Ltd
  16. Paradise ICX
  17. Purple ICX
  18. RingTech ICX
  19. Cross World Ltd
  20. SR Telecom
  21. Sheba
  22. Softex
  23. Tele Exchange
  24. Teleplus Network Ltd
  25. Vertex ICX
  26. VoiceTEL Ltd.
International Internet Gateway (IIG) operator

1. Earth Telecommunication Pvt. Limited.

2. Mango Teleservices Limited.

3. BTCL

4. bdHUB Limited.

5. Aamra Companies

6. Level3 Carrier Limited.

7. Delta Infocom Ltd.

8. Equitel Communications Ltd.

9. MaxNet Online.

10. BSCCL

11. REGO Communications Limited

12. 1Asia Alliance Communication Limited.

13. NovoCom Limited.

14. Abir Telecommunication Limited.

15. Radiant Communications Limited.

16. Fiber @ Home Limited.

17. Apple Communication Limited.

18. Cybergate Ltd.

19. Greenland Technologies Ltd.

20. Global Fair Communications Ltd.

21. NTS Telecom.

Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP) operators

The IPTSP operators in Bangladesh are:

  • Nationwide:

1. Information Services Network Limited. (ISN)

2. MetroNet Bangladesh Limited.

3. Telnet Communication Ltd.

4. http://www.adnsl.net ADN Telecom Ltd] [Former Advanced Data Network Systems Ltd]

5. BRACNet Limited (A BRAC-Japan-USA Joint Venture)

6. HRC Technologies Limited (GETCO Online Ltd.)

7. Link 3 Technologies Ltd

8. Connect BD Ltd.

9. Digital Connectivity Limited

10. Eirtel Services.

11. Royal Green Online Limited

12. Global Access Limited

13. Access Telecom (BD) Ltd.

14. Ranks ITT Ltd.

15. BDCOM Online Ltd.

16. Broad Band Telecom Services Limited

17. BTS Communications (BD) Ltd

18. Off Line

19. Agni Systems Limited

20. Communication One (Pvt.) Limited

21. dhakaCom Limited.[2]

22. X-Net Limited

23. Bangladesh Internet Exchange Limited

24. Nreach Net (Pvt.) Limited

25. Innovative Online Limited

26. Akij Online Limited

27. Bangladesh Export Import Company Limited

28. IDS Bangladesh

29. IS PROS LIMITED

30. Idea Networks And Communications Ltd

31. Pritty International (Pvt) Limited

32. Akceycom Limited

33. BEXIMCO AND SQUARE

34. MaxNet Online

35. ERGO Ventures Limited

  • Central:

1. Grameen Cybernet Limited

2. Fusion Net

3. M/s. Media & Multimedia

4. Next Online Limited ( Nextfone)

5. J F Optical Services

6. IT Connect Limited

7. Sine-10 (BD) Ltd.

8. SADIATEC Ltd

  • Zonal:

1. Chittagong Online Limited

2. Chittagong Telecom Services Limited

3. HN TELECOM

4. First n Fast IT Ltd

On August 18, 2009 the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for IPTSP. IPTSP operators are regulated by the BTRC.[8]

International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) operator

1.1Asia Alliance Communication Limited

2.NovoCom Limited

3.Fiber @ Home Limited

4.Mango Teleservices Limited

5.BD Link Communication Limited (BDLINK)

6.Summit Communications Limited

Radio

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2, community radio 1, internet radios

Radios: 6.15 million (1997)

The government owned Betar-Radio Bangladesh operates from Dhaka and other local districts. Currently, the private FM radio channels are very popular. They are trying to attract young people by broadcasting music and news. The operating private radio channels include:

Television

Television broadcast stations: 23 including state run BTV and BTV World (2012)

Televisions: 20, 000,000(2012)

The number of private satellite channels is growing. The first private channel in Bangladesh is ATN Bangla. There are 4 full fledged news channel (Shomoy, ATN news,Independent and Ekattur). The first full fledged music channel of Bangladesh is called GAAN BANGLA which will start its operations by July 1964- television transmition 1971-btv start telecast program only dhaka

Internet

Main article: Internet in Bangladesh

The first connectivity of internet was only in 1996. Though It was somewhat late, over the past few years the growth is rapid. The government's high internet tariff is impeding the growth of this sector. Recently the government is decided to reduce the tariff 50%.[9]

Internet country code: .bd

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): As of 2005 more than 180 Internet Service Providers are operating in the country.[10] ISP's are regulated by the Bangladesh telecommunication regulatory commission (BTRC).

Internet users: The number of internet users in Bangladesh as of March 2009 is over 600,000 compared to 100,000 in 2000.[11] However, only 0.3% of the population use the internet and thus making Bangladesh the lowest usage percentage per population of the internet in the world with the exception of North Korea, Myanmar and Sierra Leone.[12]

But on April, 2010 Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of Internet Service Providers' Association of Bangladesh, told Xinhua that the country's six cell phone operators and Internet Service Providers have so far provided over 800,000 internet connections. "We've estimated that nearly 10 million people in the country are using 800,000 internet connections on sharing basis," he said, adding the number of internet users in the country is increasing yearly by around 15–16 percent.[13]

The number of Internet subscribers in Bangladesh is likely to reach 18.3 million by the year 2020– translating to a 32 percent household Internet penetration at around the same time”, says a study by an international research group.

“This increased internet penetration would resulted in 2.6 per cent contribution to the country’s GDP by 2020 while creating 129 thousand more jobs by the same year” the research added.[14]

Broadband Internet access

Though broadband internet access is available it charges high for high speed connection than other south Asian countries, though this is rapidly changing. Broadband internet and e-commerce in Bangladesh is slowly progressing.WiMAX service is now available from some internet service providers. In Bangladesh Broadband is legally defined as 128/128 kbit/s, which is not in line with ITU.[15] Therefore most of the Broadband internet services and also subscribers are using bandwidth that may not be considered a broadband in other countries and may not be broadband in international standards .

International

There are 6 satellite earth stations. Talimabad, Betbunia are two of them.Some info shows that the number is now 7. Bangladesh will send her first ever satellite Bangabandhu-1 into space in 2015.

Submarine cables

Bangladesh is connected to SEA-ME-WE 4 or South-East Asia – Middle East – Western Europe 4. The landing site of the Bangladesh branch is located at Cox's Bazaar. Bangladesh is also a member of the proposed SEA-ME-WE-5, which will provide another submarine cable connectivity for the country when its submarine cable is implemented within a couple of years. The company, BSCCL is the only submarine cable operator in Bangladesh.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Chronological Development of Telecommunication
  2. ^ "Bangladesh Enters 3G Era, Putting Telecom Growth on Fast Track". Fox Business. October 14, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "Teletalk Launches Bangladesh's First 3G Network". Cellular News. October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  4. ^ National Telecommunications Policy 1998
  5. ^ Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
  6. ^ Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
  7. ^ "Bangladesh nearing 100 mln mobile subs". Telecompaper. 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  8. ^ Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP)
  9. ^ Xinhua
  10. ^ ISPs association Bangladesh
  11. ^ #BD moble Internet Usage Stats
  12. ^ "Internet users (per 100 people) | Data | Table". Data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  13. ^ http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4072376
  14. ^ http://mskhalid.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/internet-subscribers-may-reach-18-3m-by-2020-the-financial-express-22-january-2010/
  15. ^ spumail (2011-04-04). "Birth of Broadband - Frequently Asked Questions". Itu.int. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  16. ^ http://www.bsccl.com.bd
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