3G Mobile Broadband for Bangladesh

Mustafa Hussain, Telcom Consultant and Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics & Communications Engineering, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. [email protected]

What is 3G (3rd Generation) Technology? 3G or 3rd Generation Technology is a current standard for Mobile Communication and Mobile Devices throughout the world. The very first pre-commercial 3G Technology was launched by NTT Docomo in Japan, in the year 2001 on pre-release of W-CDMA Technology. 3G Technology includes:

High Speed Mobile Internet Access Video Calling (Video Conferencing) Video on Demand Mobile TV Location Based Services Support for New and Advanced Mobile Applications

With 3G Technology, you can make use of both Speech and Data Services simultaneously, without much compromise on Data Transmission Rate. Also, the above mentioned features are apart from Normal Voice Calling, SMS and MMS Services found in a typical Mobile Handset! 3G Mobile broadband typically refers to the delivery of end-user downlink data rates of 500 kbps or more while providing full mobility. High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology is already enabling the delivery of commercial 3G mobile broadband services in excess of such speeds, and is proving itself as the logical choice for operators wanting to offer mobile broadband services to both urban and rural consumer and enterprise users. 3G Mobile broadband usage is expected to grow exponentially over the next four years, bringing the Internet to 1 billion people globally by 2012. Limited fixed-line infrastructure in many developing countries means limited fixed broadband growth capacity. 3G HSPA is a Governments best bet to improve broadband Internet access. Developing country examples like

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia show that mobile broadband penetration can overtake fixed broadband penetration in a matter of months.

How 3G Technology can revolutionize Mobile Communications Scenario in Bangladesh? Currently in Bangladesh, for accessing the Internet users make use of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) and the Data Transfer rate is terribly slow over these networks, even if you are using a High End Mobile like iPhone 4 or Nokia N8! Both GPRS and EDGE comes under 2G (2nd Generation) Technology, which is discontinued in major Countries of the World like USA, UK etc. These countries are now using 3G Technology, which facilitate High Speed Data Transmission over a Mobile Network. Now with respect to features of 3G Technology mentioned above, Bangladeshi people will experience following advantages over a 3G Network:

1. High Speed Mobile Internet Access: A typical 3G Network supports Data Transmission Rate up to 2 Mbps (can be higher in case the Network is using 3.5G or 3.75G Technology). With such a High Speed Data Transmission Rate on a Mobile Device, Communication as well as Connectivity will definitely reach a New Level, which has never been experienced in Bangladesh till NOW! 3G Technology in Bangladesh is going to redefine almost every aspect of Communication! Access to popular sites like YouTube, GMail, Facebook, Orkut etc. will be blazingly fast! You dont have to wait for a Video to get fully buffered on your Mobile Device or wait for a site to get fully loaded. With High Speed Data Transmission, all of us can enjoy Full Version of a particular given site, instead of Mobile Version which lacks many onscreen features 2. Video Calling (Video Conferencing): Staying in Touch with Colleagues, Friends and Family members in Real Time will be darn easy. Now we can chat with their near and dear ones by means of a Video Call. Normal Voice Calling may be a history for many people! Family member/Friend/Spouse traveling via Train or Bus? With 3G Technology and a Front Facing Mobile Phone Camera, you can get in touch with them using Video Calling in Real Time. Companies/Organizations can make use of Video Conferencing Facility on 3G enabled Handsets to facilitate meetings/important discussions. No matter whats the present location of an employee/company member is? With Video Conferencing they can all stay in touch with each other!

3. Video on Demand: With Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) System, Bangladeshis can now watch Internet Television and listen to their favorite Audio Tracks on their Mobile Devices. 4. Mobile TV: Once Mobile TV is fully operational in Bangladesh, people can enjoy their Favorite TV Shows on a Mobile Device. TV Shows are distributed using 3G Technology by the Service Provider or by some other proprietary network.

5. Location Based Services: No matter in which City/State you are living in Bangladesh, with 3G Technology, you will remain updated with Local Weather, NEWS in Regional Languages, Health and Lifestyle Tips, Location Based Games etc. Location based Services will also give rise to Mobile Commerce (Marketing and Advertising through Mobile Network), which can be useful to many people in getting latest offers/coupons for various Shops/Companies in their Locality 6. Support for New and Advanced Mobile Applications: With the launch of 3G Technology, Bangladeshis can now make use of New & Advanced Mobile Applications. These Applications includes HD (High Definition) Mobile Games, Applications which remotely controls in-house appliances and machines etc.

3G Evolution HSPA HSPA, is the umbrella term to include the downlink enhancement - HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), and the uplink enhancement - HSUPA (High Speed Packet Access). Unlike many other mobile broadband technologies, HSPA provides very efficient voice services in combination with mobile broadband data, enabling mobile operators to continue to pursue their conventional business models for voice services whilst at the same time driving new revenues through increased uptake of high-speed data services. The very latest HSDPA networks, support a downlink peak rate of up to 14.4 Mbps. In most HSDPA networks around the world, the end-user can expect to enjoy speeds of at least 1Mbps depending on how many people are using the network at the same time, how far the user is from the base station and other factors. Equally important, HSDPA increases UMTS capacity approximately three fold, and reduces latency substantially. HSDPA network services were first deployed in 2005 by AT&T (formerly Cingular) in the United States and Manx Telecom in the U.K.

HSUPA vastly improves uplink peak rates, enabling uplink speeds of up to 5.7 Mbps. HSUPA also significantly improves the network capacity, as well as reducing uplink packet latency to better enable packet-based communication services. HSPA+ Also known as HSPA Evolution, HSPA+ involves a series of technical enhancements that can dramatically enhance the speed and responsiveness of existing HSPA networks, while potentially doubling their capacity. Telstra, in Australia, has already commercially launched with peak rates at 21Mbps, and through 2009 we can expect to see a growing number of operators supporting peak downlink speeds of 21 to 28 Mbps through HSPA+, with the capacity to upgrade to peak bit rates of 42 Mbps. LTE Designed to be compatible with GSM and HSPA, Long Term Evolution incorporates MIMO in combination with OFDMA in the downlink and Single Carrier FDMA in the uplink to provide peak end user data rates up to 1 Gbps, coupled with major improvements in capacity and reductions in latency. Developing in parallel, LTE and HSPA+ are expected to achieve similar levels of spectral efficiency.

The 3G can give Bangladeshis a new experience. With more than 70 million active mobile subscribers, Bangladesh has become one of the fastest growing markets in the world. These 70 million customers are ready to join to next stage of mobile technology. About The author:

Mustafa Hussain Mustafa has considerable experience of the telecommunications industry including its market, standards and regulations. Amongst the recent engagements that Mustafa has carried out are: The Implementation of Technology Integration Solutions, Telecom Technology & Regulatory Strategy Management, Network. Management, Operations and Rollout, Project Management, Marketing and Sales for a Telecommunications company, Tasks related to Product Road map, Product Proposals, Product Presentations, Solution write-ups, Technical Pre-sales, Concept papers, New Venture Roll out, New initiative and business opportunity, Design of Telecom Business models and innovative strategies. Mustafa operates effectively at technical, marketing and strategic management levels and is a competent and practical engineer in both academic and commercial environments. He is also a PR/Communication specialist. Mustafa holds MSc Engineering Degree in Telecommunications from Kings College London. He is an Assistant Professor of East West University. The author can be contacted at [email protected]