Augere Launches WiMAX on Trial

by Hamidur on Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd, one of the two WiMAX licensees, commenced high speed broadband internet services yesterday on a trial basis with a focus for commercial operations. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless digital communication system that can afford broadband wireless access across 30 miles for fixed and 3-10 miles for mobile stations.

Chinese technology giant Huawei is Augure's network and IT vendor in this case and would be providing the company with base stations and other technological support.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the wireless internet technology, which will initially be launched in some areas of Gulshan and Banani on trial. "Technology must be welcomed, but we should avoid a digital divide. WiMAX is a technology that can be availed anywhere," he said.

Three bidders, BanglaLion Communication, BRAC BD Mail Network Ltd and Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd won the WiMAX licenses through an auction organized by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in September last year. However, BRAC later refused to take the license. The Tk 215 crore bid price had become a 'double bind' for both the telecom regulator and licensees. The regulator extended the deadline for launching WiMAX services several times.

UK-based Augere Holdings owns 60 percent of Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd along with two other local companies. Teleport Bangladesh owns 30 percent and Aamra Resources Ltd owns 10 percent in the company.

Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, telecommunication minister, Abul Kalam Azad, information minister, Zia Ahmed, BTRC chairman, and Jerry Mobbs, chief executive officer of Augere Bangladesh, were also present at the launch at the Westin Dhaka.

"The real internet experience is here," said Sanjiv Ahuja, chairman and chief executive officer of Augere Holdings. Augere Bangladesh is poised to meet demand for the internet using WiMAX technology, he said.

Bangladesh, with the lowest internet penetration in the world at 4 percent, will be exposed to high-speed wireless internet by the launch of the WiMAX technology. At present, the country has four million internet users.

Source: The Daily Star