Dhaka, 20 February 2018: Leading digital service provider, Robi, has ceremonially launched 4G mobile service for both Robi and Airtel brand users in all the 64 districts of Bangladesh today. The launching ceremony was held at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre. Although, within minutes of receiving the 4G license, Robi had officially launched 4G service yesterday, 19th February 2018.
Robi declared at the 4G launching event that using the best quality spectrum and greater volume of spectrum relative to the competition, it offers the best indoor coverage, the best internet speed and the best seamless coverage consistently. The most exciting part is that the customers will be able to enjoy the 4G service for the same price they use the data products available these days.
Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Mustafa Jabbar attended the launching ceremony as the chief guest. ICT Division’s State Minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, Posts and Telecommunications Division’s Secretary, Shyam Sunder Sikder, High Commissioner of Malaysia, H. E. Nur Ashikin binti Mohd Taib and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC) Chairman, Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood were present on the occasion as the special guests. Representative from Indian High Commission and Japanese Embassy were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Mustafa Jabbar said: “Among all the logos of foreign companies, I like Robi’s logo most. That’s because it is in Bangla. We gave the 4G license only yesterday and already Robi has taken 4G service to all the 64 districts; this is highly appreciable. I thank Robi for expanding 4G all the districts of the country in such a short time. You have made it a historic day indeed. Once you take 4G to the villages, it will create job opportunity for the jobless. I will take to Finance Minister about the SIM replacement tax on 4G SIM swapping. Besides, once we can remove VAT from internet, we will in true sense would be able to create a revolution with internet in the country.”
ICT Division’s State Minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP said: “Today is a historic day. We have entered the era of 4G service in Bangladesh. Robi has long been a partner of various initiatives by the ICT Division. Robi has been instrumental to High School Programming Contest, providing ICT training to empower women through smart bus project and the largest online educational platform, Robi- 10 Minute School. We are sure that Robi will continue to be a part of our initiatives to spread ICT among the youth powered by 4G service.”
Posts and Telecommunications Division’s Secretary, Shyam Sunder Sikder said: “We have handed out 4G license to four companies yesterday and Robi has already launched 4G service today. Robi is different from other operators in this regard. We congratulate Robi for this.”
BTRC Chairman, Dr. Shahjahan Mahmood said: “We have started our journey with 4G from today. BTRC is also thinking about 5G. Our main aim is to ensure that the subscribers get good quality of service. I congratulate the entire Robi family for launching 4G service in Bangladesh.”
Speaking at the launching event Robi’s Managing Director and CEO, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said: “We are proud to launch the long-awaited 4G service in the country today. This is a historic day and we decided to do justice to this auspicious day by launching the 4G service in all the 64 districts of the country today. With the launch of 4G, the country has officially entered the era of 4th Industrial Revolution. With greater amount of spectrum compared to our competitors, we are ready to serve the best quality 4G service to our subscribers from this very day. We take this opportunity to thank the Government for their kind cooperation in allowing us to launch the 4G service in the country. We are confident that with Government support, we will be able to complete the Digital Bangladesh vision by 2021 powered by the blistering speed of 4G service.”
Mahtab further added that to make the 4G launch successful in Bangladesh, Government should consider reducing taxes on 4G devices, reduce duty on 4G equipment, introduce special incentive for rolling out 4G service in the rural areas, resolve all pending VAT disputes and move to Unified Licensing regime like the neighbouring countries.
Alongside the launching ceremony in Dhaka, 4G service was ceremonially launched in all the other divisional cities at the same time. In each of the divisional city, a member of Robi’s Management Council was present to celebrate the historic moment with the local dignitaries. Using the 4G video calling service, the launching ceremonies held in the divisional cities were connected to the launching ceremony held in Dhaka.