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GP starts trial in all divisional cities
Grameenphone, GP conducted a trial run of a 5G network in all divisional cities of the country on Thursday, paving the way for taking digital connectivity to the next level.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (BTRC) Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder inaugurated the test run at GPHouse.
In partnership with Huawei and ZTE technology, GP activated the 5G network.
Earlier on 26 July, Grameenphone conducted the trial run for 5G for the first time in the country with some use cases in Dhaka and Chattogram. In its continuation, the telecom operator will now be rolling out 5G in eight divisional cities across the country for people to experience 5G connectivity.
In the trial run, 5G Internet speed reached 600 Mbps in Sylhet and Khulna, which is 10 times higher than that of 4G, while the speed in Dhaka was recorded at 1000 Mbps. Grameenphone officials expressed satisfaction with such speed.
Earlier on 12 December last year, state-owned mobile phone operator Teletalk first introduced the 5G network in six places in the country on an experimental basis.
Robi Axiata Limited was the first telecom company to conduct a 5G trial in the country in 2018.
In a keynote, Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Yasir Azman, said, “Empowering societies and creating opportunities for all through democratizing the power of technology is at the core of Grameenphone. With the imminent 4IR, we believe it is our responsibility to accelerate the ongoing digitalization and harness the opportunities by pioneering the revolution to enable the nation to achieve its vision of becoming a ‘Smart Bangladesh’.”
Being the first to spearhead the eras of connectivity from 2G, 3G, 4G to now 5G, they envision being the connectivity partner to transform Bangladesh with high-speed connectivity and advanced industrial solutions, he also said.
“Being a part of the Telenor fraternity, Grameenphone has the technical know-how and global use cases which can be tailored for our local market,” he noted, requesting all to collaborate to address the existing challenges and formulate industry-friendly policy framework that will help in the mass adoption of the 5G network.
In March this year, Grameenphone acquired 60MHz of radio frequency at the auction on 2.6GHz band for Tk3,360 crore. It currently holds the top position with 107.4MHz radio frequency.
Yasir Azman said it is not so easy to roll out 5G because an expansion of technology lies with it. “Nevertheless, we are ready to do all the expansion work,” he pointed out.
He also said, “There are many problems with our network. It is our duty to resolve them. We always want to provide customers with good services.”
BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder at the event said 5G will be more effective in enhancing digital connectivity in the fourth industrial revolution.
Stating that currently, 60 countries across the world have completed trial runs of the 5G network, he said, if this technology is launched successfully here, Bangladesh will be at the forefront of this revolution.
“The condition of our 4G network is very poor. People are pointing the finger at us for this. So, we all have to work together so that customers do not complain about whatever services the operators provide,” Shyam Sunder Sikder continued.
Talking about the ban on sales of new GP SIM cards, he said the BTRC has found GP’s failure to provide quality services to customers from its own report. “We will lift the ban if they ensure the quality of voice calls and Internet services,” he added.
DHAKA, Nov 07, 2024 (BSS) – Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) has elected a 16-member Board of Directors for the term 2024-2026 with Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) as its President.
The election was held on October 27 and November 6, said a press release today.
Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) has been elected as the President of JBCCI. He is the Managing Director of New Vision Solutions Limited. He has been the Secretary General of JBCCI for three consecutive terms.
Maria Howlader FCA has been elected as the first female Secretary General of JBCCI. She has also been re-elected as a Board Member for two consecutive terms.
Kenji Kimura has been elected as the Treasurer of JBCCI. He is the Chief Representative of MUFG Bank Dhaka Office, which is the largest Bank in Japan and a member of Mitsubishi Group.
Out of a group of 313 members, including 71 Japanese member companies, the voting process saw a notable turnout of 61.98 percent.
Afsana Zarin has consistently demonstrated her strategic vision and dedication, developing and empowering women entrepreneurs through technology, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
Recently, she was recognized for her efforts at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Bangladesh Award in the Women in Innovation with Inclusion category. The award ceremony took place at Hotel Le Meridien in Dhaka on Friday, October 25, 2024.
The prestigious event was graced by notable guests, including Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Head of Anti-Corruption Reform Commission and Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, who attended as the Chief Guest. Md Mukhlesur Rahman Sarker, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Children Affairs, attended as the Special Guest, and Rasheda K Chowdhury, Executive Director (CEO) of CAMPE, delivered the keynote speech.
“I am humbled and thrilled to be recognized as a woman of inspiration. Being able to work for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh is a privilege. Thanks to ShopUp for allowing me to work with thousands of entrepreneurs across Bangladesh. This award inspired me even more towards this north star, and I plan to drive more inclusion through technology in Bangladesh in the coming years,” Afsana said.
Afsana extended her gratitude to the board members of JCI Bangladesh, Imran Kadir, the 2024 National President of JCI Bangladesh, Fahim Ahmed, the event director and the event organizers for selecting her for this honor.
JCI Bangladesh is a nonprofit global organisation that empowers and encourages the youth of the nation to take an active part in helping fellow entrepreneurs and professionals of their own communities to thrive and be successful.
The ceremony, which celebrated the achievements of women leaders in various fields, highlighted Afsana’s contributions to driving women’s economic empowerment through innovative programs and technology.
Her work has set an example for aspiring entrepreneurs, and her commitment to fostering inclusion through technology and creating opportunities for women continues to inspire many in Bangladesh.
Correspondent To witness the deep and diverse historical culture and the latest achievements of high-quality development, the seven-day “International Insights into China” event was held with the theme of “Towards Openness and Integration of the New Era”. The event was held in various cities in China’s autonomous region of Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi Province between October 13 and 19. Media reporters and international students from different countries, including Bangladesh, participated in it.
This event is guided by the Cyberspace Administration of China’s Network Communication Bureau and jointly co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Cyberspace Administration of Shanxi Province, and China Daily Newspaper.
During the event, the delegation members visited the Inner Mongolia Museum, Yili Modern Smart Health Valley, Mengcao Seed Industry Center, Grassland Cloud Valley, Huawei Cloud Service Data Center, Qisumu Railway International Logistics Park, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes, and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. They have immersed themselves in the profound and diverse historical and cultural charm of Inner Mongolia and Shanxi, and witnessed the latest achievements of high-quality development. During the activities, the delegation members used their unique “outside eyes” perspective, lenses, and pens to show the world the beautiful picture of cultural inheritance and innovative development in Inner Mongolia and Shanxi and tell the extraordinary story of the local practice of Chinese-style modernization.
The journey began on 13 Oct, and on Oct 14, they explored the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, where the city’s grassland culture and historical heritage. From Oct 15 to 16, the delegation visited Inner Mongolia’s Ulaanqab City, also known as the “Prairie Technology Valley”, where the Huawei Cloud Data Center, a core area of Inner Mongolia’s big data industry, left a lasting impression on the delegation. The second half of their journey was devoted to Shanxi province. From Oct 16 to 19, they visited iconic tourist sites, such as the Huayan Temple, Nine-Dragon Wall, Hanging Temple, Yungang Grottoes in Datong City, and the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in Shuozhou City.
Bayasgalan Lkhagvadulam from Mongolia, after climbing the Hanging Temple, said it is marvelling. It’s hard to imagine how people built this temple on the cliff 1,500 years ago. It’s awe-inspiring. If you are interested in ancient architecture, I highly recommend visiting Shanxi to see it yourself.
A group of 20 foreign media journalists, experts, and international students from different countries and regions, including Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, participated in this event.
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