The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) will apply to the BTRC for licence to operate WiMAX /Broadband Wireless Access, a senior government official said. Telecommunications secretary Iqbal Mahmood told reporters that BTCL would have to pay Tk 215 crore to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission for the licence. Bangla Lion Communications, BRAC BDMail Network and Aguri Wireless won WiMAX licence through a bidding. Each of them has to pay the telecoms regulator Tk 215 crore. The three private firms will be allowed to operate WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access service with 2.3 and 2.5 gigahertz spectrum. According to the terms and conditions for the licence, each firm will have to set up 90 base stations across the country. The launching of WiMAX service is aimed at bringing the entire country under the service.