B-mobile users in Phuentsholing can now avail themselves of the 3rd Generation or commonly known as 3G service through their mobile phones. After it was launched in Thimphu in 2008, Phuentsholing is the second town to be connected with the service. About Nu. 20 million has been incurred for the purpose.
After carrying out trials for the service for about two weeks, the Bhutan Telecom has now started providing 3G services to the people of Phuentsholing.
BBS tried out video call, one of the applications of the service from the Bhutan Telecom counter in Phuentsholing and talked to the General Manager of B-mobile in Thimphu. “The main service that we are aiming at is the data services. Initially we have services with low internet speed but now people can browse internet faster than those with 2G services and enhance social networking,” said P.M Pradhan.
With the service, it is expected to ease the network congestion as well. As more people start using 3G services, there will be lesser users on 2G service which is currently being used by most of the Bhutanese.
According to Jichen Thinley, the Regional Manager of Bhutan Telecom in Phuentsholing, for now 3G service will be available only in the Phuentsholing town areas. However, they are looking at enhancing the service at Rinchending and Gedu by the end of August this year.
The data speed ranges from 550 kilobyte per second to 3 mega byte per second. The tariff will vary with the size of downloads. To use the service, one’s handset should be 3G compatible.
For now, there are about 30 3G users in Phuentsholing excluding those who registered for the service in Thimphu.
