Teletalk to add 1.8m new connections

Teletalk- state-owned mobile operator-- is planning to expand its network giving 1.8 million new connections by the end of this year, officials said.
The company has almost completed all works to give 1.8 million new connections, raising the total capacity to about 3.0 million connections, they added.

"We are working to expand our network by increasing the subscribers to 3.0 million by December 2010," Mujibur Rahman, managing director of Teletalk told the FE Saturday.

The number of Teletalk subscribers is 1.2 million at present started from only 0.25 million based on its own capital, the MD added.
China will provide a soft loan of US$ 211 million for expansion of network of the public sector mobile phone company, he said.
He said with this assistance, the Teletalk will introduce 3G technology having the facilities of watching televisions and videos on mobile phones.
"Besides, 5.5 million new connections would be given by using this technology within two years," Mr Rahman added saying "And we are hopeful that we can start the project early 2011."
Officials said the government received a letter from the Chinese authorities last month in this regard. China will provide the assistance charging only 2 per cent interest.
Bangladesh got assurance of the assistance in the meeting of China- Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission held in China on July 28 last year. The final talks were held during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's last China visit.
A delegation of a Chinese public sector bank has already visited Bangladesh and held talks with concerned officials over the assistance, they added.
The Teletalk MD said an agreement will be signed with China in this regard.
When completed, the new network will improve quality service of the Teletalk, Mujibur Rahman said.