GrameenPhone’s Fibre Optic Network (FON):Its Scopes and Possibilities to offer Nationwide Connectivity

A.M.M. YahyaDirector, Fibre Optic Network Division

GrameenPhone Ltd., Bangladesh

Workshop on Nationwide Internet Access and Online ApplicationsDhaka, Bangladesh

May 22-24, 2004

Contents:

• GrameenPhone Ltd.• Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division• Fibre Optic Network (FON) • Last Mile Solution • GrameenPhone’s (GP) Nation Wide Telecom Backbone Infrastructure

• Available Telecom Backbone Infrastructure for Nation Wide Connectivity

GrameenPhone Ltd.

November 28, 1996:• GrameenPhone (GP) was offered a cellular license in Bangladesh

by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

March 26, 1997: • GrameenPhone,1st GSM Company, launched its service on the Independence Day of Bangladesh

After seven years of Operation:• GrameenPhone has more than 1.6 Million subscribers as ofMay, 2004 with more than 60% market share.

GrameenPhone Ltd. (contd.)

The Purpose:

• GrameenPhone (GP) has a dual purpose: to receivean economic return on its investments and to contribute to the economic development of Bangladesh where telecommunications can play a vital role.

The Strategy:

• GrameenPhone’s basic strategy is to extend coverage to both urban and rural areas.

GrameenPhone Ltd. (contd.)

Contribution to National Development:

• Contribution to National Treasury : Taka 13,601,722,062 (up to 2003)

• Contribution to Bangladesh Railway (BR) only: Taka 619,053,061

• Small Enterprise business originated

• Rural Economic Development- Village Phones (53,620 subscribers)

• Proliferation of ICT through the use of Fiber through sub-lease

• Job directly created for more than 1000 in GP, 140 in BR, more than 50,000 indirectly with Dealers, Agents etc.

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division

July, 2003:

• Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division was created as full-fledged Divisionfrom July, 2003 to manage the Fibre Optic Network (FON) and create & sell the Transmission Capacity commercially to the prospective business units/clients.

• The Management philosophy is based on shared responsibility and mutualUnderstanding among the people working at FON Division. Creativity and Innovations are encouraged. The Management envisages to build it as an independent business entity, eventually.

• The work of this Division comprises of 3 main units such as 1) Technical2) Co-ordination and 3) Sales & Marketing.

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division (contd.)

Policy of Capacity Sale:

• FON Division (GP) shall sell capacity at E1 PCM level only & Would notprovide last mile connectivity. The Division (GP) shall refer all clients of channel level requirement either to Its Strategic Partner (X-Net) or the Dealer /Agent (Ranks ITT).

• GP (FON) would determine the selling price (highest) and the rate of discount to be given on the basis of volume and duration of contract of the E1 PCM.

• X-Net and Ranks-ITT would sell capacity at channel level only providingLast Mile Connectivity (LMC). Choice of LMC provision and the price for the last mile connectivity shall be determined by X-Net and Ranks ITT.

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division (contd.)

Policy of Capacity Sale (contd.) :

• Price of selling at E1 PCM shall be cheaper than selling at channellevel.

• FON (GP) shall arrange a common point of termination beside the GP Installations for E1 PCM customers, including X-Net and Ranks ITT.

• FON (GP) would provide DC supply to FON customers subject to availability at a cost determined by GP for such power.

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division (contd.)

Some of the clients to whom Nationwide Internet Access and Data Connectivity provided:

1. Grameen Communications Ltd.2. Siemens Bangladesh Ltd.3. Aventis Ltd.4. Plan International Bangladesh5. Techno Online Ltd.6. Srimongol Online Services7. Southnet Online Ltd.8. Bangladesh Express Co. Ltd.9. BRAC Bdmail Network Ltd.10.Polly Dot Net11.Dragon Group

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division (contd.)

Some of the clients to whom Nationwide Internet Access and Data Connectivity provided (contd.).

12. Global Access Ltd.13. Lever Brothers Bangladesh Ltd.14. DHL Worldwide Express15. Heidelberg Cement16. Shell Bangladesh17. Berger Paints18. Expeditors Ltd.19. Mutual Trust Bank20. IDLC21. SBI22. Ispahani23. Global On-line

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division (contd.)

Growth of Nationwide Internet Access and data connectivity traffic through the Years 2002-2004:

0500

100015002000250030003500

Year-2002 Year-2003 Year-2004(for five

months)

Bandwidth (kbit/s)

Bandwidth (kbit/s)

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division (contd.)

Business Opportunity employing Nationwide GP FON Connectivity:Areas :• Education• Research• Healthcare &• Economic Development• ICT

To Offer :• Fixed Telephony (Other Operators)• Internet Services (Local ISPs, Large ISPs, Cyber Café)• Domestic Data Connectivity (Domestic Data Service Providers)• Distance Learning (NGOs, Universities)• Video Conferencing (Govt. Agencies/ Offices, Ministries etc.)• Connectivity for Utility Services (Electricity, Gas, Water Supply etc.)• Connectivity for financial institutions such as Banks, Corporate Houses,

Fibre Optic Network (FON) Division (contd.)

Business Opportunity employing Nationwide GP FON Connectivity (contd.) :

• Small and Medium Enterprises, Industries• Bandwidth on Demand (SME, Corporate Houses, SOHO).• Dial up mobile internet (Nationwide ISP)• Cable TV (Entertainment/ Education etc.)• Telemedicine (NGO, Medical & Healthcare Entrepreneur).• Terrestrial Video Broadcasting (Private TV Broadcasters).• Internet Exchange (ISP and VoIP licensees).• Call Center (GSM, PSTN subscribers, Telco).

Fibre Optic Network (FON) – used for Nationwide Internet Access and On-line applications

• The word “Internet” derives from Inter-Net working, meaning the inter-connecting of networks. This defines the Internet in abroad sense.

• The Internet is based on a TCP/IP network called NSFnet, which wasfinanced constructed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)to promote research and education.

• First online Internet service was introduced in Bangladesh in 1996

• Access Network: consists of two parts from the network function. One is “Transit network” and the other is “Access network” GrameenPhone FibreOptic Network (FON) has been used as “Transit Network” for Nationwide connectivity.

Fibre Optic Network (FON)

• For the purpose of building a Nation wide Telecom Backbone Infrastructurefor Its own use, GrameenPhone (GP) acquired the Optical Fiber Network of Bangladesh Railway (BR), back in 1997 through a lease contract for 20 (twenty) years from the date of signing.

• GrameenPhone Nation Wide Telecom Backbone Infrastructure has beenbuilt on SDH Fibre Optic Network (FON) and Microwave Radio Links. SDH Fibre Optic Network refers to a group of fibre optic transmission rates that can transport digital signals with different capacities.

• Total length of GrameenPhone Optical fibre is now about 2000km (2004) and the maximum capacity is STM-4 (622Mbps, 252 E1 PCM), ready for upgrading to STM-16 (2488 Mbps, 1008 E1 PCM).

Fibre Optic Network (FON) (contd.)

Why GP’s Fiber?

• Nationwide coverage• Technical expertise• Robust network• Minimum downtime for non-protective circuits• Redundant Network option• Cost-effective• Right of way in the Bangladesh Railway Network• Public but yet private enough to give best negotiated prices• Best possible option available

Fibre Optic Network (FON) -continues

Advantages of Fibre over other Transmission media:

FairFairFairGoodGoodFairConstraints Due to Environment

GoodGoodGoodGoodPoorGoodDistancePoorPoorPoorGoodFairFairSecurityFairFairFairGoodGoodFairErrors

GoodGoodGoodGoodGood in local area

FairExpandability

Fair to Good

Possible Contention

GoodGoodGoodGoodAvailability

SatelliteRadioMicrowaveFiberCoaxWires

Last Mile Solution

Available Last Mile Solution:

• Presently five popular broadband access technologies are availablefor last mile solution to Telco's: namely, (1) DSL (Digital Subscriber line),(2) Broad-band Wireless Access (BWA), (3) Cable Modem, (4) Optical fiber and (5) Satellite.

• We propose to deploy Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologywhich is most appropriate for providing last mile solution to small and medium enterprises in the local loop. It has two distinct advantages overits substitutes/alternatives: such as - it can be deployed in weeks and requires lower initial capital expenditures.

Last Mile Solution-continues

Some Constraints:

• Poor Quality of service (QOS)

• Low MTBF and long MTTR of the equipment

• Lack of adequate and knowledgeable technical skill

• Less/small Investment and looking for short term return in the lastmile solution

• Lack of long term planning

• Non-availability of proper planning tool• Using Multi-vendor equipment and facing problem of integration

GrameenPhone Nation Wide Telecom Backbone Infrastructure (Components)

GrameenPhone Nation Wide Telecom Backbone Infrastructure carriesthe traffic (voice & data) from point to point. It consists of three main partsas given below:

• Local Network - has been built on PDH MW Radio links in 15GHz & 23GHz frequency band.

• Regional Network – has been built on PDH MW Radio links in 7.5GHz frequency band.

• Backbone Network - has been built on SDH Fiber Optic Network (FON)and SDH MW Radio links.

FNBRC1(42L)

FNBSP1

FNCRA1(42L)

FNDKP1(42L)

FNRMP1

FNWUP2

RWFEN(42L)

NORTH BRINCHI

DAKTARPARA FENI RAIWAY STATION

NORTH RAMPUR

WEST UKILPARA

WEST CHAURIA

BASHPARA

Some Illustrations:FON Access node at FENI local Network N

CMBZP1

CMDLP1CMHST3

CMJCR1

CMJPL1

CMKDP1

CMLAK2

CMNAV1

CMSJN1

RWCOM(42L)

JUDGE COURT ROAD

JHAWTALA POLICE LINE

KANDIRPAR

BAZRAPUR

NAZRUL AVENUE

SUJANOGOR

HOUSING ESTATE 3

DAULATPUR 1

RAILWAY COMILLA

LAKSHAM 2

Some Illustration (contd.):FON Access node in COMILLA local network N

KHBNK2

KHBTTB

KHFRP1

KHKJA2

KHKLP2

KHSIQ1

KHHKP1(03)KHSND1

RWKHL(60H)

KHALISHPUR 2

RAILWAY KHULNA

SIR IQBAL ROAD-1

SHONADANGA

KHAN JAHAN ALI 2

FARAJIPARA

BANIAKAMAR 2

Some Illustrations (contd.)FON Access node in KHULNA local Network N

NGALG1

NGBDR1

NGCHA2

NGCHA3

NGDBG1NGDBG2

NGFAT1

NGHAG1

NGHAG3

NGKBL2

NGKLB1

NGLAM2

NGMSD1

NGMSD2

NGNIT2

NGNIT3

NGNIT4

RWNRG(52H)

LAMAPARA 2

FOTULLAH 1

HAZIGANJ 3

HAZIGANJ 1

ALIGANJ 1

CHASARA 2

CHASARA 3

RAILWAY NARAYANGANJ

BANDAR 1

NITAIGANJ 2

NITAIGANJ 3

DEOBHOG

MASDAI 1

Some Illustration (contd.)FON Access node in NARAYANGANJ local network N

RJBTTB

RJINFO

RSLXP1

RSSGP1(03)

RSSKP1

RSTAL1

RSUPS1

RWRJS(42L)

RAILWAY RAJSHAHI

UPOSHAHAR 1

LAXMIPUR 1

SHEKPARA 1 TALAIMARI 1

Some Illustration (contd.)FON Access node in RAJSHAHI local network N

ADB2

AGG1AGG3(03)

AMB1

AMB2(03)

ARJPR

BAD1

BAD2

BAR1

BARA

BARB

BAS1

BAS3BAS6

BHA1

BNN4

BNN7

BNN8BNN9

BNNA

BNNB

BRCBLDCITY

CP

CT

DHMRPM(03)

DHN6

DHNA

DHNBDHNC

DHNDDHNF

DHSAV1

DHSAV3

DHSAV7

DHSAVC

DHSVRE(03)

DHUTR1

FRM2

FRM3

GB

GPCHD1(03)

GPJDP1(42L)

GPJDP3

GPJDP6 GPJDP7

GPKAL1

GPKLK1

GPKLK2

GPPUB1

GPSLN1

GPTON1

GPTON3

GPTON4

GPTON5

GUL1GUL2

GUL3GUL4

GUL5

GUL6

GUL7GUL8

GUL9

GULA

GULB

GULC

GULD

IRB1IRB2

ISTP

JSH1

JSH2

KAF2

KAF3

KAK6KAK7

KBN2

KBN3KBN5

KBN6KHL1KHL2

KHL3

KHN1

KLP1

KRB1KRB2KRB3

KRB4

LAL1LAL3

LKB

MGB1

MGB4MGB5MGB6MGBTTB

MGKLA(42L)

MHP2MHP3

MHP4MHP5

MHP6

MHP7(03)

MLB5

MLB6

MLB9

MLBA

MOH1MOH2

MOH3

MRP1

MRP2

MRP3MRP4

MRP5

MRP6

MRP7MRP8

MRP9MRPB

MRPC

MRPE

MRPF

MRPG

MRPHMRPIMRPN(03)

NGMJG1(03)

NGRPG1(52H)

NKP2

NKP4NKP4-N

NSK1NSK2

RANGS RMP1RMP2

RWJDP(70)

RWTON(42L)

RYB3

SAV4

SAV5

SAV6

SAV8

SAVA

SDW3SDW4SDW5

SHB4

SHM1SHM2

SHN2SHP3

SNBTTB

TJG1TJG2

TJG3TJG4TJG5

UTR2

UTR3

UTR5

UTR6

UTR7

UTRA

UTRB

UTREUTRG

KALIAKAIR 1

SAVAR 1

SAVAR 7 SAVAR 8

SAVAR 4

SAVAR A SAVARC

KULLA

KALIAKAIR 2

SALNA 1

JAIDEBPUR 6

JAIDEBPUR 3JAIDEBPUR 1

JAIDEBPUR 6

SAVAR 3

SAVAR 5

SAVAR 6

TONGI 4

TONGI 5

TONGI 3

RAIWAY TONGI

TONGI 1

Some Illustration (contd.)FON Access node in SAVAR & JAIDEBPUR local network N

RWSYL(60H)

SYAMB1

SYAMB2

SYBTTB

SYINFO

SYKJS1

SYLMB1

SYMJP1

SYSBB1

SYSDP1

SYUPS1

SYZIN1

SYZIN2

SYZIN3

AMBARKHANA 1

AMBARKHANA 2

SAGOR DIGHERPER 1

KAZAL SHAH 1

LAMABAZAR 1

ZINDABAZAR 3

ZINDABAZAR 1

ZINDABAZAR 2

UPASHAHAR 1

MOHAJHON POTTI 1 BISWANATH 1

RAILWAY SYLHET

Some Illustration (contd.)FON Access node in SYLHET local network N

ACTG

AGBTTB

AHSHRAKTEL

BAFCTG

CGAGB1

CGAGB2

CGAGB3

CGAGB4CGAGB5CGAGB6

CGAGB8CGAGB9

CGAGBC

CGAIR1

CGASG1CGASG4

CGBAK1

CGBAK2CGBAK3

CGBAK6

CGBAK7

CGBAK8

CGBAKB

CGBAKC

CGBAKX CGBTTB

CGCDG1

CGCDG4

CGCRB1

CGCTR2

CGDBC3

CGDHS1

CGDHS3

CGDMP1

CGDMP3

CGEPZ1(03)

CGGSD1

CGKHL1

CGLAL1

CGLDP1

CGNAVY

CGNSB1

CGNSB5

CGNSB6

CGORS1

CGPTA1(03)

CGPTL2

CGPTL4

CGPTL5

CGRJK1

CGSHS2

CGSHS3

CGSHS4

CGSHS7

CGSNG1

CGTXP1CGUHS2

CGUHS3 CGUHS5

CGUPA1

CGVTR1

NKBTTB

DHAKHIN BURIRCHAR

UTTAR HALI SHAHAR SHSHOHORPAHARTOLI 4

CHAH GAON

BAKULIA 8

UTTAR PATENGA 1

BAKULIA 7

Some Illustration (contd.)FON Access node in CHITTAGONG local network

N

Rangpur

RW Gaibanda

Joypurhat

Jamalpur

Rajshahi

Natore Sirajgong

Kustia

Chuadanga Rajbari

Kishorgong

Brahmon baria

Narayangong

Old Railway station

RM

KCFeni

PP

Khulna

Bhangora

Ullapara

Ishwardi

Abdulpur

Mubarakgang

Siramoni

Poradhaha

Pakshi

Gouripur

Bharob bazar

Pearpur

Atharobari

Akhaura

Laksam

Mirersharai

Saistagong Srimangal

Kulaura

Santahar

Kamlapur

Sarishabari

Dewanganj Bonarpara

Hathazari

Parbatipur Kaunia

Gandaria

Sylhet

Bajitpur

Noapara

Birampur

Tongi Narsingdi

N

Go

Fenchugong

Pangsha

Syedpur Lalmonirhat

Jessore

Mymonsingh

Comilla

Fibre Optic Network (FON) showing FON Access nodes

Tangail MirzapurJoydebpur

Legend:

Optical Fibre cable

SDH Access Node

SDH Radio links

Some details of GP’s available Telecom Backbone Infrastructure for Nation Wide Connectivity:

• Tower – 42m (heavy) SS Tower (Qty.71), 42m (medium) SS Tower(Qty.47), 52m SS tower (Qty.30) 60m SS tower (Qty.14) 70m SS tower (Qty.07)

• Space – Primary 6 divisional Head Quarter. For remaining sites out doorsolution should be applied for Last mile equipment

• DC supply – in all Access Nodes.

• Base Station/Access Node – 749 nos.

• FON Access Node – 60 nos.

• Dist./Thana Coverage – 61/288 nos.

Q & A

Thank You