Data traffic rockets after 3G rollout

Data consumption in Bangladesh increased six times in the last two years thanks to faster mobile internet services, said a top official of Ericsson.

Two years back, total data use was around 50 terabytes a day, which has now crossed 300 terabytes, according to Raj Jain, managing director of Ericsson Bangladesh.

"After 3G services evolved in the country, people are using more and more data. These trends showed the users' hunger for data."

Even when 3G was launched, there was no avenue for users to use high-speed internet, but now users can access faster data services across the country, Ericsson said.

At a media briefing at Ericsson's office in Dhaka on Sunday, Jain said smartphone penetration in Bangladesh will be more than 40 percent by 2018, which is 20 percent at present.

Referring to one of their studies -- Ericsson Mobility Report November 2015 -- Jain said they have their own market calculation process for different markets based on the information and trends of that market.

Ericsson has recently signed separate deals with top mobile phone operators Grameenphone and Robi to strengthen their networks for the Chittagong and Comilla regions for 2G and 3G services. However, the value of the deals was not revealed.

Grameenphone is using Ericsson equipment for 2G and 3G services in Dhaka, Chittagong and Comilla, replacing Huawei. While Robi, the third largest operator in terms of subscribers and second largest in terms of revenue, is going to take 2G services from them, replacing Japanese company NSN.

Robi is already using Ericsson equipment for 3G services in these three regions, said Jain.

"All the equipment that we are deploying in this region is LTE (a data network faster than 3G) ready," he added.

In five years, 70 percent of mobile operators' revenue will come from the Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Comilla regions, and that is why operators are concentrating more here, said Jain.

On giving 4G services, Jain said the dense urban parts of Dhaka and Chittagong are ready for the service. However, handset affordability is the main concern for them.

"Speed will increase 10 to 15 times from 3G to 4G. And the data use pattern will change after the fourth generation services are launched."

With 3G, users can get at best 5 Mbps of speed on a given day, which can reach 40 to 50 Mbps in 4G, said Jain.

"Our main vision is to establish a networked society in Bangladesh."

The leading technology vendor already established the Internet of Things (IoT) initiative in Bangladesh, and has plans to enhance the BPO sector, mobile application developments and software development as well.