Staff Correspondent
Visiting Telenor Group president and chief executive officer Jon Fredrik Baksaas on Tuesday urged the government to create an environment favourable for introducing third generation mobile phone technology as its local operator GrameenPhone was ready to adopt it. 
‘We have been engaged for years in connecting peoples through different telecom services. Now we are ready to bring the third generation mobile technology to the people,’ Baksaas told newsmen at a meet the press programme held at Radisson Hotel in the city.
In reply to a question, the Telenor CEO said, ‘GrameenPhone is now well-positioned to roll out a 3G-based telecom network. It now rests on the government creating an enabling environment.’
When asked whether the GP finds any barriers to introducing 3G mobile phone technology, Baksaas said they expected that the Bangladeshi authorities would establish a clear and fair 3G licensing process.
The third generation mobile phone technology will provide the subscribers with wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls, and mobile TV facilities. The 3G system allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and provides peak data at the rate of at least 200kbs.
He said the government of Bangladesh should take into consideration the concerns raised by the information and communication technology industry about some clauses of the amended Bangladesh Telecom Act that were perceived to be detrimental to an investment-friendly business environment. He also emphasised the need for consultation with the renewing operators while preparing the renewal framework.
Responding to another question, the Telenor Group CEO claimed the GP had fired some of its high officials for indulging the use of illegal voice over Internet protocol, better known as VoIP, for which the company had to pay a handsome amount in compensation to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
Responding to a question, Baksaas said that the matter of illegal VoIP is now history and the persons had already left the company.
‘I can’t ensure you that there will be no irregularities in GrammenPhone. But I can ensure you that if any irregularities are detected, at once we remove those involved in the affair in a transparent way,’ he said.
Baksaas is visiting Dhaka to attend the inauguration programme of Grameen-Phone’s new head office.
Telenor Group, the largest shareholder in GrameenPhone, is an international provider of telecom, data and media communication services.
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