TashiCell users can now enjoy the latest and the fastest internet connectivity currently as the company launched its 5G commercial network today. 5G is the fifth generation of mobile network which is expected to be ten times faster than 4G.
At the launch, Tashicell’s Managing Director said the company’s 5G service will be available in the thromdes of Paro, Phuentshogling and Thimphu for now.
“The use of 5G is mostly in crowded, congested and metropolitan places, not to mention that it is not useful in other rural places. But for now, I think, the application of 5G is in metropolitan and cities where there are large number of people. We will be taking the service to other districts where there are large population residing in one location,” said Tashi Tshering, TashiCell’s Managing Director.
TashiCell users have to contact the customer service centre to activate 5G service on their mobile phones. However, the company’s 5G service is currently supported by only five models of mobile phones. They are Samsung Galaxy’s Z FOLD 3, Z FLIP 3, A52s and Huawei’s P40 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 X. The Managing Director said works are ongoing to make the service accessible for iPhone and other android users.
The TashiCell’s 5G service is also accessible for home and office users. The company said the launch of 5G service will ease the network congestion issues.
The Managing Director said, “5G is complementary to 4G. When we introduce 5G, some users in the same locality will migrate to 5G therefore relieving the capacity or resources in 4G. The other thing is, 5G gives more capacity than 4G. So, therefore, if you deploy 5G you will be able to relieve the congestion much faster and better than 4G because 4G needs many more base stations.”
“And the challenge is, in places like Thimphu, to get a site to build our tower is very challenging. So, therefore, when we add 5G on a tower which already has 4G, we are increasing the capacity in many folds.”
As of today, 184 operators in 75 countries have launched the 5G service. The 5G network is expected to support various applications in the fields of agriculture, health, tourism and hospitality, transportation, energy, and manufacturing.
Phub Gyem
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
