
Bangladesh entered the new technological era of connectivity digital as the state-owned mobile operator Teletalk has launched the fifth generation (5G) in mobile Internet access today.
The test run of super-speed tech was inaugurated at a special event entitled 'New Era of 5G' in the Radisson hotel in Dhaka on the evening of this week in partnership with Huawei.
In the beginning, Teletalk's mobile customers won't be able to connect since Teletalk is introducing the service on a trial basis in six regions of the country.
The locations are The Prime Minister's Office, Parliament, Secretariat, Bangabandhu Museum on Dhanmondi 32, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birthplace Tungipara in Gopalganj and the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.
The 5G network will roll across the entire district slowly and Teletalk plans to install 200 5G networks within the next year.
Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, who is the ICT advisor to the prime minister Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, the prime minister's ICT affairs adviser, is almost the chief guest.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar was an honorary guest on the program led by lawmaker AKM Rahamatullah, chairman of the standing committee of the parliament for the ministry of telecom.
The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina also shared her inspirational remarks via an online video message during the program.
However, private operators, like Grameenphone and Banglalink are expected to launch 5G later this year following the auction for spectrum in March.
By utilizing 5G connectivity Bangladesh is joining over 60 other countries that have availed the technology.
5G technology is expected to deliver data speeds that are about twenty times more efficient than the 4G technology. It will be the basis for major advancements of the future including self-driving vehicles and Augmented Reality to intelligent cities and artificial intelligence According to Reuters.
The technology will deliver better-quality streaming as well as the capability of live streaming to larger audiences.
"Today we're only making the first steps toward 5G technology, and we have an extensive road to travel into the future," said Md Shahab Uddin, managing director at Teletalk Bangladesh Limited.
In the past twenty-one years, Huawei is playing an active role in Bangladesh in the participants in ICT ecosystem in Bangladesh according to Zhang Zhengjun, chief executive officer at Huawei Bangladesh.
"We are always there to meet our customers' needs by implementing an underlying goal of creating an intelligent, connected Bangladesh. Huawei Bangladesh is extremely pleased to be an integral part and partner in this important moment in time when Bangladesh will be entering the 5G age," Zhengjun said.
Huawei has played an integral role in the development of 5G technology throughout the world said Simon Lin, president of the Asia Pacific region of Huawei.
"Bangladesh I am convinced that Bangladesh will also benefit by our cutting-edge technology in increasing the adoption rate in 5G technology."