Visiting Telenor Group president and chief executive officer Jon Fredrik Baksaas on Tuesday urged the government to create an environment favourable for introducing third generation mobile phone technology as its local operator GrameenPhone was ready to adopt it.
‘We have been engaged for years in connecting peoples through different telecom services. Now we are ready to bring the third generation mobile technology to the people,’ Baksaas told newsmen at a meet the press programme held at Radisson Hotel in the city.
In reply to a question, the Telenor CEO said, ‘GrameenPhone is now well-positioned to roll
out a 3G-based telecom network. It now rests on the government creating an enabling
environment.’
When asked whether the GP finds any barriers to introducing 3G mobile phone technology,
Baksaas said they expected that the Bangladeshi authorities would establish a clear and fair
3G licensing process.
The third generation mobile phone technology will provide the subscribers with wide-area
wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls, and mobile TV facilities.
The 3G system allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and provides peak data at
the rate of at least 200kbs.
He said the government of Bangladesh should take into consideration the concerns raised by
the information and communication technology industry about some clauses of the amended
Bangladesh Telecom Act that were perceived to be detrimental to an investment-friendly
business environment. He also emphasised the need for consultation with the renewing
operators while preparing the renewal framework.
In another answer, the Telenor Group CEO claimed the GP had fired some of its
high officials for indulging the use of illegal voice over Internet protocol, better known
as VoIP, for which the company had to pay a handsome amount in compensation to the Bangladesh
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Responding to a question, Baksaas said that the matter of illegal VoIP is now history and
the persons had already left the company.
‘I can’t ensure you that there will be no irregularities in GrammenPhone. But I can ensure
you that if any irregularities are detected, at once we remove those involved in the affair in a transparent way,’ he said.
Baksaas is visiting Dhaka to attend the inauguration programme of Grameen-Phone’s new head
office.
Telenor Group, the largest shareholder in GrameenPhone, is an international provider of tele
com, data and media communication services.
