3G or WiMax- Which One is better for home use
With the uprising of 3G technology in Bangladesh, every current and potential internet user of the country is wondering the same thing: whether to keep the existing WiMAX connection or get a 3G connection from the mobile operators. There are a number of factors to consider here as both 3G and WiMAX have their own pros and cons.
The first thing to consider when getting a new internet connection is the monthly cost. Currently there are three WiMAX (Qubee, Banglalion, ollo) and one 3G provider (Teletalk) in Bangladesh. From a general perspective, a Bangladeshi home user will not really need more than a 2 mbps connection. This is more than enough to surf the web, streaming videos and have a decent download speed. The 2 mbps unlimited usage package of Qubee and Banglalion costs 5750 and 6000 taka respectively. On the other hand, 2 mbps speed and 40 GB usage limit package for Teletalk 3G costs 6900 taka. All of these are monthly packages. This indicates that WiMAX is still slightly cheaper than 3G right now. Other mobile operators will introduce 3G soon. Their rate will not be cheap considering the high amount they had to spend for getting the license.
The price of networking device varies as well. WiMAX devices vary from 2,000-8,000 taka depending on the need of the user. Using 3G requires a SIM card and a modem. Together they cost approximately 3,000 taka. The connection time for WiMAX takes 1-3 working days while 3G can be used right after buying it.
The next issue to be considered is the service quality. WiMAX providers of Bangladesh are professional internet service providers. Each of the providers - Qubee, Banglalion, ollo have their customer care teams dedicated to deal with the problems of the customers. The customer cares are operational 24/7 and they are experts in dealing with internet troubleshooting. They will provide a solution right there or send an engineer to the customer’s house to solve the problem. On the other hand, the 3G provider (Teletalk) has not opened up any customer care team or customer care center dedicated for internet troubleshooting. Existing customer care executives are not expert in dealing with internet problems. So if a 3G connection stops working for some reason, it becomes a hassle to get it functional again. But the private mobile operators will not have this problem. Once Roby, GP, Banglalink and Airtel are in the market, users will get good customer service.
Most home users in Bangladesh use internet in multiple devices. They might use multiple computers, tablets and Wi-Fi enabled phones in their homes. WiMAX providers have some devices which can be easily used as a Wi-Fi router and a user can access the internet from multiple devices via Wi-Fi. Having a 3G modem means that the user can use internet from just one particular device. Unfortunately, 3G cannot be used in a tablet that does not support 3G.
One thing WiMAX seriously lags behind is in network coverage. Qubee, Banglalion, ollo have not been able to spread their coverage throughout Dhaka let alone the entire country. The mobile phone operators have a strong network covered in Bangladesh which assures a strong reception wherever a user goes.
Just 7 to 8 years ago, the only options to use internet is Bangladesh were dial-up and broadband. Dial-up has already become obsolete and the new technologies are giving broadband a run for their money. The new age is for WiMAX, 3G, 4G or higher technology.
Considering all factors, it seems like just for home use in Bangladesh, WiMAX is currently a much better option than 3G. But for users those are ‘on the go’ most of the time and want a good internet connection while they travel, 3G should be the choice.
The first thing to consider when getting a new internet connection is the monthly cost. Currently there are three WiMAX (Qubee, Banglalion, ollo) and one 3G provider (Teletalk) in Bangladesh. From a general perspective, a Bangladeshi home user will not really need more than a 2 mbps connection. This is more than enough to surf the web, streaming videos and have a decent download speed. The 2 mbps unlimited usage package of Qubee and Banglalion costs 5750 and 6000 taka respectively. On the other hand, 2 mbps speed and 40 GB usage limit package for Teletalk 3G costs 6900 taka. All of these are monthly packages. This indicates that WiMAX is still slightly cheaper than 3G right now. Other mobile operators will introduce 3G soon. Their rate will not be cheap considering the high amount they had to spend for getting the license.
The price of networking device varies as well. WiMAX devices vary from 2,000-8,000 taka depending on the need of the user. Using 3G requires a SIM card and a modem. Together they cost approximately 3,000 taka. The connection time for WiMAX takes 1-3 working days while 3G can be used right after buying it.
The next issue to be considered is the service quality. WiMAX providers of Bangladesh are professional internet service providers. Each of the providers - Qubee, Banglalion, ollo have their customer care teams dedicated to deal with the problems of the customers. The customer cares are operational 24/7 and they are experts in dealing with internet troubleshooting. They will provide a solution right there or send an engineer to the customer’s house to solve the problem. On the other hand, the 3G provider (Teletalk) has not opened up any customer care team or customer care center dedicated for internet troubleshooting. Existing customer care executives are not expert in dealing with internet problems. So if a 3G connection stops working for some reason, it becomes a hassle to get it functional again. But the private mobile operators will not have this problem. Once Roby, GP, Banglalink and Airtel are in the market, users will get good customer service.
Most home users in Bangladesh use internet in multiple devices. They might use multiple computers, tablets and Wi-Fi enabled phones in their homes. WiMAX providers have some devices which can be easily used as a Wi-Fi router and a user can access the internet from multiple devices via Wi-Fi. Having a 3G modem means that the user can use internet from just one particular device. Unfortunately, 3G cannot be used in a tablet that does not support 3G.
One thing WiMAX seriously lags behind is in network coverage. Qubee, Banglalion, ollo have not been able to spread their coverage throughout Dhaka let alone the entire country. The mobile phone operators have a strong network covered in Bangladesh which assures a strong reception wherever a user goes.
Just 7 to 8 years ago, the only options to use internet is Bangladesh were dial-up and broadband. Dial-up has already become obsolete and the new technologies are giving broadband a run for their money. The new age is for WiMAX, 3G, 4G or higher technology.
Considering all factors, it seems like just for home use in Bangladesh, WiMAX is currently a much better option than 3G. But for users those are ‘on the go’ most of the time and want a good internet connection while they travel, 3G should be the choice.
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