Bhutan Telecom Ltd, the oldest and one of the largest internet and telecommunication service providers in Bhutan has announced that it will launch the latest mobile internet technology, 4G LTE on 24th October, 2013 in Thimphu.

On its official website, it stated that it will initially be available for selected locations in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.

These are the places or location in Thimphu where subscribers will be able to avail 4G LTE network:

  1. Norzin Lam
  2. Chubachu
  3. Offices near dzong
  4. Kawajangsa
  5. Changangkha
  6. Ministers’ Enclave
  7. Other places around Motithang High School

According to their announcement, 4G LTE network will operate at 1800 MHz frequency.

Their announcement says, “smartphones that do not support Thimphu’s 3G network frequency of 850 MHz will not be able to fall back from 4G to 3G in places where 4G is unavailable”.

The cost of 4G usage will be on PAY PER USE scheme @ Nu. 0.001 per kb and the SIM card for 4G costing around Nu. 500 with Nu. 500 worth data and validity of 7 days will be available for sale, according to their announcement.

They sated that “4G LTE is 4 times faster than 3G and 10 times faster than home broadband. You can watch latest videos, TV series, play online games, upload videos and many more with 4G LTE Service”.

Many subcsribers are sceptical of the latest service’s quality and functionality as many clients say the current 3G network is not up to their expectation. 3G network constantly faces network errors.

One of the subscribers said: “If it is not even a whole of Thimphu, why should they announce of the service launch?. If they think it is worth to announce its launch, they should have prepared 4G LTE coverage atleast all areas in Thimphu.”

“They should have at least improved the 3G before the quantum leap to 4G! As for the sporadic reach, this has traditionally always been the case with BT (Bhutan Telecom)”, commented one user on a Facebook post by one of the subscribers of Bhutan Telecom.

Bhutan Telecom first announced that it will launch 4G LTE in Thimphu on April 4, 2013 during a World Mobile Congress in Barcelona.