Grameenphone, the leading mobile operator in Bangladesh having market share of about 48% is providing EDGE connectivity to the users within the coverage range. Their network covers every corner of the country except Rangamati, a part of Chittagong Hill Tracts. They have been advertising in the television, newspaper, radio etc that they provide high speed internet connectivity through their EDGE enabled network. Their marketing quote is “Light will find its way!”
I have a spare Grameenphone Prepaid Sim, so decided to give a try of their EDGE internet connection, the so called “High speed internet” But guess what? It’s damn slow. The usual download speed of EDGE technology is 236.8 kilobit/s or 29.6 kilobyte/s but with Grameenphone Edge service I get like around 0.03 kilobit/s or 3.75 kilobyte/s! And their ping is like around 688 ms, huh! With this freaking slow connection they claimed to be the largest ISP in Bangladesh!
And the cost of having their connection is pretty expensive too. An internet SIM, intended to use only only internet purposes costs about 1000 BDT or 14.5 USD. The monthly rate for their connection (no data limitation) including VAT is 977.5 BDT or 14 USD.
If a user want to use the SIM through modem not by cellphone then they have to buy a modem from Grameenphone which costs about 4000 BDT or around 58 USD.
THEIR MARKETING QUOTE SHOULD BE LIKE THIS “LIGHT WILL FIND ITS WAY BUT NOT AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT!”
About Nasif
