DHAKA: Grameenphone launched Third Generation (3G) mobile-phone services for its customers of Basundhara and Baridhara area on commercial basis on Tuesday.
3G was launched flying balloons in front of Bashundhara Industrial Park in Bashundhara Residential Area in the capital.
The launching ceremony was attended, among others, by Chief Advisor of Bashundhara Group Mahbub Morshed Hasan, Senior Deputy Managing Director Belayet Hossain, Deputy Managing Director M Mostafizur Rahman, Bashundhara Group Advisor Major General (retd) Mahbub Hyder Khan, Publisher of East-West Media Moynal Hossain Chowdhury, Bashundhara Advisor (Information and Media) Mohammad Abu Tayeb, Advisor (PR) and Head of HR Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Khandekar Abdul Wahed.
From Grameenphone, acting CEO Naser Fazle Azam, Director (Direct Sales) Sazzad Alam, Director (Shared Service-people and Organization Division) SM Rayhan Rashid and Deputy Director (Product) Emdadul Haque were present among others.
The launch marks the beginning of a nationwide network roll out, with the ambition of covering all 64 District towns by end of March, 2014.
From now on customers within the coverage areas will be able to use 3G packages of Grameenphone. The operator initially is offering three packages in two speed tiers, with more packages to come in the near future.
There are three packages under 512 kbps, starting with 2-GB standard monthly plan at BDT 400. There is a Smart Plan for Smartphone users comprising unlimited data (Fair Usage policy after 1.5GB), Voice minutes, SMS and MMS at BDT 800 and for the heavy users’ unlimited monthly plan (Fair Usage policy after 8GB) at BDT 950.
In the 1 mbps tier there are three packages, starting with 2GB standard monthly plan at BDT 700. There is a Smart Plan for Smartphone users comprising unlimited data (Fair Usage policy after 1.5GB), Voice minutes, SMS and MMS at BDT 1100 and for the heavy users’ unlimited monthly plan (Fair Usage policy after 8GB) at BDT 1250.
A Video Call to other 3G enabled GP number will cost BDT 1.20/minute with 10 second pulse. Video calls to other operators will be possible in the future.
Within the next few weeks other areas of Dhaka and Chittagong along with Gazipur and Narayangonj will be covered with 3G network.
Allan Bonke, CMO of Grameenphone, said, “It’s a proud moment for Grameenphone as we now start serving customers with 3G-packages. By offering a seamless experience with instant internet access on the best network we will provide our customers with the competitive mobile service they expect from Grameenphone.”
He added: “We will be offering three value packs for subscribers to choose from depending on their device type, usage and affordability needs.”
Grameenphone, the largest telecom operator in Bangladesh with over 45 million customers, has a strong legacy of providing mobile services to all parts of the country.
The launch of commercial 3G-service follows the recent acquisition of 10 MHz spectrum in the 2100 MHz-band, which will enable the roll out of a nationwide network with enhanced capacity and instant mobile internet access for all customers.
BDST: 1316 HRS, OCT 08, 2013
AKA/JCK
