The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Three private companies won the licence of broadband internet service (WiMax/broadband wireless access-BWOA) through an open auction.

Bangla Lion Communication, BRAC BDMail Network Ltd and Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd got the licenses at the auction.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Communication (BTRC) organised the auction at a hotel in the capital yesterday. Bangla Lion Communication offered highest Taka 215 crore for the license. The rest two companies agreed to pay the same amount.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Telecommunications retired Brig Gen MA Malek (Retd) was present on the occasion.

When asked about reduction of internet fee, Malek said, "So long there was no control over the activities relating to internet services, but control will be in place very soon."

BTRC Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Monjurul Alam was also present at the auction which continued for four hours.

He hoped that government would be able to earn nearly Tk 2000 crore annually in revenue from internet services.

The companies, which got Internet licenses, will run the broadband Internet service in 2.3 and 2.5 Gigahertz spectrums.

According to license conditions and primary survey, the companies will have to set up at least 90 base stations in the concerned areas in the first year and the whole country will be brought under WiMax in three years.

BTRC invited applications from interested companies for internet license on August 30. Nine organisations took part in the auction out of 12 which purchased application forms.

With the introduction of WiMax facilities, BTRC hopes, the number of Internet users would surpass one crore in the country.