4G only in papers, not in reality

None of the mobile operators can ensure 4G services outside Dhaka city, says a report published today by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The telecom regulator conducted drive test to ascertain that the mobile operators are unable to ensure the threshold internet speed for 4G anywhere else outside Dhaka city.

A minimum download speed of at least 7mbps could not be ensured by the top three mobile operators Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink outside Dhaka, it said.

It added, in some cases operators are offering half the threshold speed.

State-run operator Teletalk remained out of purview as it is yet to launch 4G outside Dhaka. The test was conducted between January and February in Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal and Rangpur, BTRC said in its report.

Previously, another report had debunked the mobile operators saying they cannot ensure 4G speed in Dhaka either.

4G SERVICE WORST IN BARISHAL DIVISION

In terms of 4G data speed, mobile operators are offering worst quality of 4G service in Barishal division, reads the report of the BTRC.

Banglalink's average speed for 4G in this division was only 3.56mbps in the drive test. On average Robi offers 4.89mbps while Grameenpone offers 5.1mbps data speed.

The telecom regulator has run about 1,000 kilometers drive tests in four districts Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalakati and Pirojpur of the division.

All the four operators also failed in the category of call setup time in this district, which needs to generate a call successfully within 7 seconds.

In this division Teletalk's call drop ratio is 7 percent.

For other three divisions the BTRC also run about 3,000 kilometers and generated about 5,500 voice calls which generated 90 seconds to measure the call quality.