GrameenPhone’s Fiber Network : Its Scopes & Possibilities to Offer Nationwide Connectivity

Abstract

GrameenPhone Ltd. is the largest GSM company in Bangladesh (subscribers ,1.6 million in 7 years of business). They own an Optical Fiber based Transmission network with the right of way from Bangladesh Railway. The present capacity is STM-4 (622 Mbps) and expandable up-to STM-16 (2488 Mbps).

The fiber has distinct advantages over other modes of transmission. The fiber network of GP extends over about 2000 km (by the year end,2004). Presently, the GP network spans over 75 towers comprising of 750 base stations/access nodes including 60 FON nodes covering 61 Districts(out of a total of 64) /288 Sub-Districts.

Employing GP's network capacity, the following business (but not limited to these) has bright prospects: Internet services; Fixed telephony; Domestic Data Connectivity; Nationwide Video Conferencing; Connectivity for Utility Services, Financial Institutions, SMEs, Industry etc.; Bandwidth on Demand (Content Delivery); Multimedia and Entertainment Services; Educational Institutions (e-learning and Distant Education); Telemedicine etc.

In Bangladesh, proliferation of Nationwide Internet and Online Applications is hindered by the lack of quality of service provision in the last mile. In the current Bangladesh scenario, improved quality of service, reliable equipment in the last mile leg and skilled technical personnel to deliver these services are required to fully utilize potential of network owned by GrameenPhone and others.

 

Biography

A M M Yahya
Director
Fiber Optic Network Division
GrameenPhone Ltd.
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Mr.A M M Yahya, obtained his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Dhaka in 1970.Joined Bangladesh Railways (BR) and served for about 27 years as Chief Engineer/ Telecom and Additional General Manager etc. He was instrumental to the conceiving, and building of Bangladesh Railway's Own Optical Fiber Network which was a pioneering project in the South East Asia at that time in 1986.

With the completion of BR project, the latent capacity of the optical fiber network was leased to GrameenPhone Ltd. in 1997. Because of this, GrameenPhone has made tremendous good use of the existing optical fiber of BR and turned out to be the leading service provider of cell phones in Bangladesh over the widest area of coverage. The subscriber base of GrameenPhone is 1.6 million to date extending over in 61 out of 64 districts of Bangladesh.

Mr. Yahya joined GrameenPhone in, 2000. He is responsible for the Fiber Optic Network, plans for the capacity to be created both for GP and for selling to the market. He has a commendable skill in contract negotiations, planning, maintenance and operational activities relating telecommunications, is a good orator and is an expert presenter. He has traveled extensively in India and Europe.

© 2003-2006 CIMAP| Last modified: 08/28/2006