Joy pledges 5G

Bangladesh will introduce 5G services in the country, if the Awami League (AL) is voted to power again through the next general election, said Joy, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Affairs Adviser. He said while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of "Bangladesh 5G Summit 2018" at Sonargaon Hotel in the city.

The first ever demonstration of the latest 5G mobile technology was staged in the country recording the highest 4.17gbps speed for the wireless broadband, on Wednesday. Posts and Telecommunications Division, in cooperation with Huawei and Robi, demonstrated 5G technology for the first time in Bangladesh.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, said full coverage of 5G countywide is our commitment to the people.  "Bangladesh will be one of the first countries in the world to install the 5G (fifth generation) mobile technology. This is my promise for the next election. I want Bangladesh to relentlessly move forward.

The purposes of this event is to show how a 5G ecosystem can be cultivated in Digital Bangladesh and how to use 5G to respond to the economic transformation of  Bangladesh as well as the operators. This next generation of wireless technology is expected to change the way of everyday life. 5G will play a vital role in automatic driving, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, big data, internet, smart city and network.

Prime Minister's ICT adviser, said, "Whenever there is a new technology, I want it. It is my habit as a techie. Even though we have recently launched 4G, we are talking about 5G. 5G is not a dream, it's a reality now. We are the country to deploy 1G to 4G in the fastest time.

Technologically, Bangladesh was the most backward country in the world. Now, see where we are! I have put pressure on the regulators to reduce the cost of internet by 99% within 5 years. Now, Bangladesh is enjoying the cheapest internet in the world. No other country has been able to install next generation internet so fast."

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar presided over the summit while State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Robi Axiata Limited Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, President of Huawei's Southeast Asia Region Zhang Zhengjun James Wu, among others, were present.

Jabbar said, "Technology is essential to take forward the country and everyone should involve along with the technology." He urged the mobile operators to expand 4G internet services across the country, as 4G will play a vital role to bring 5G in the country. In his speech Palak said, "Bangladesh has achieved remarkable development in the last 10 years."

James Wu, President of Huawei's Southeast Asia Region, said, "I've always been impressed by the rapid progress that Bangladesh has made in ICT infrastructure, which is truly an example in the region connecting all people.

Behind such achievements, we have witnessed that many policies have been consistently introduced and implemented to promote ICT development, such as ICT investment, startup community, high-tech parks, ICT training to students, and so on. We believe that, more and more Bangladeshi people will enjoy a better digital life with the advent of 5G."

Robi's Managing Director and CEO, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said, "Complete manifestation of Digital Bangladesh is not possible without latest technologies, such as 5G.

5G gives us once in a lifetime opportunity to rethink about our education, health, housing, transport, shipping and all other sectors imaginable for the socio-economic development of the country."