4G users top 10cr
FROM PAGE B1
and accessibility issues for smartphones capable of supporting 4G technology have hindered widespread adoption, particularly among lower-income groups.
HOW OPERATORS ARE FARING
Robi, the second-largest operator, leads in terms of the percentage of 4G users within its subscriber base. Following closely is the third-largest operator, Banglalink, while the leading operator, Grameenphone, holds third spot.
Collectively, these operators command 96.60 percent of the telecom market in terms of subscribers that also include 2G and 3G users.
More than 60 percent of the active subscribers of Robi, which has 5.80 crore customers, now use 4G.
Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata, said after becoming the first mobile network operator to launch 4G services in all 64 districts in 2018, Robi continues to make significant progress in the market thanks to sustained investment.
“Robi’s 4G has become much stronger than before by utilising the 2,600 MHz spectrum. Voice over LTE users are enjoying superior voice quality on their devices powered by our strong 4G network,” he added.
According to Alam, Robi now has more than 3.53 crore 4G users.
“This happens to be the highest percentage of 4G users among all mobile operators. Not only that, approximately 80 percent of Robi’s data users are 4G customers,” he said.
This is a clear reflection of Robi’s reliable network and innovative services winning the hearts and minds of customers, Alam added.
Meanwhile, about 49 percent of the 4.31 crore customers of Banglalink now use 4G.
An official of Banglalink said they were initially lagging behind in 4G customer acquisition but eventually gained a huge number of users over the last one-and-a-half years.
Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer at Banglalink, said the operator has invested considerably over the last two years in expanding its network from 10,000 base transceiver stations to nearly 16,000.
“On top of that, we invested in procuring new spectrum to ensure the best data experience for our customers and have consistently ensured the best data speed in the country,” he added.
Rahman also informed that Banglalink believes data connectivity is a basic necessity for the people, which is why they have ensured that all their base transceiver stations support 4G.
“Through this initiative, nearly 2.1 crore, or 50 percent, of our customers regularly use 4G and this number is increasing daily,” he said.
Rahman believes that affordability of 4G handsets and reduction of taxes related to data penetration is vital to ensure faster 4G penetration, which would have a direct impact on increasing the country’s gross domestic product through enhanced digitisation of the population.
When it comes to Grameenphone, around 49 percent of the operator’s 8.2 crore customers use 4G.
During the July-September period, Grameenphone invested Tk 280 crore mainly on expanding its 4G network coverage and deploying 2,600 MHz spectrum.
“More than 1,900 new 4G sites and 1,700 coverage sites were rolled out in the last 12 months,” said Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone Ltd.
By the end of the third quarter of 2023, the number Grameenphone’s of 4G sites reached 21,000, facilitating network coverage for up to 97.9 percent of the country’s population, he added in a recent statement.