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All but Citycell to take part in 3G auction

They deposit earnest money

Star Business Report
Four private mobile operators will participate in the 3G auction on September 8, and each of them is poised to come out winning the bid as just four licences are up for sale. Only Citycell opted out.
Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel yesterday deposited Tk 155.5 crore each in earnest money to the telecom regulator to take part in the auction.
The operators hope people would get high-speed internet by the yearend, while state-run Teletalk, which has a 1.8 percent market share in the 10.7 crore-subscriber market, launched 3G services last year on a test basis.
Teletalk will not participate in the auction but will pay for the frequency at the auction price. A licence was reserved for a new entrant but none expressed interest.
Giasuddin Ahmed, vice-chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, said they received the earnest money from the officials of the operators.
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Sunil Kami Bose, BTRC chairman, said, "This is a good sign that the operators are now confident and are going to participant in the auction."
On Citycell, he said the operator could not arrange the earnest money. The operator also requested the regulator to allocate 5 megahertz spectrum after the auction so that it can offer 3G services when it manages the money, Bose said.
However, Citycell runs on EVDO (enhanced voice-data optimised) technology, which is equivalent to the 3G. The operator had also requested the regulator to transform its technology to GSM (global system for mobile communication) from CDMA (code division
multiple access).
Banglalink CEO Ziad Shatara said: "By confirming our participation in the 3G auction, we reiterate our commitment to deliver to our customers, the next generation of technologies and value propositions."
Mahmud Hossain, chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone, said they would be able to offer the service within this year.
Mahmudur Rahman, executive vice president of Robi, said, "We have submitted the earnest money and hope the issues related to tax on SIM replacement and amortisation will be resolved before the auction date."