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Govt orders Teletalk to expand, modernise network by June’23

Hasan Arif and Shamim Ahmed
02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 | Update: 01 Aug 2022 22:25:22
Govt orders Teletalk to expand, modernise network by June’23

The government has passed an official order to implement TK2204.39 crore project to expand Teletalk mobile phone network at village level and also to modernize the existing network to provide 5G services by June 2023.

The Posts, Telecommunication and ICT Ministry passed the order saying that Teletalk Bangladesh Limited, the only state-owned Telecommunication Company, would implement the project titled ‘Expanding Teletalk Networks at Village Level and Modernising Networks to Provide 5G Services’.

The government will fund most of the project costs while Teletalk will chip in only Tk60 crore.

The project approved by the Posts and telecommunication Minister and signed by Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, is scheduled to be implemented between July 2021 and June 2023, according to the order issued on July 28.

Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar said once implemented Teltalk’s capacity would increase three times. It will be possible to provide modern technology services to rural population alongside spreading 5G technology across the country, he said.

It will modernize and strengthen the existing transmission network as well.

In terms of network, it will ensure high-speed quality services using much less radio waves through 5-G technology. The capacity of existing 2000 BTS sites of 3-G and 4-G equipment will be improved, he said.

By installing 5,000 Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology devices outside Dhaka internet services in hospitals, educational institutions and government offices and courts will be strengthened.

There are several such activities in the project, he added.

Under the project Teletalk will spend TK 126.54 crore for building up Base Transceiver Station (BTS) while it will build 500 BTS sites on its own and 25,00 sites tower sharing, connecting total 3,000 BTS to upgrade teletalk’s network.

The main project objectives include improving the quality of the existing Teletalk network to provide modern 4G based services to rural people at an affordable price side by side modernizing the existing core and transmission network of Teletalk suitable for providing 5G technology based services.

The Planning Commission has already received a project proposal to initiate 5G coverage in selected areas of Dhaka city, according to the sources of the commission.

Initially, the 5G network will only be available at key government and commercial concerns under the two Dhaka city corporations.

As per the project, the government will provide Teletalk with a total of Tk236.54 crore to prepare its existing cellular network to launch 5G services by 2023.

The project titled ‘Commercial Launch of 5G Technology on Teletalk’s Network in Dhaka Metropolitan Area’ will be placed for approval at a weekly meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council today (Tuesday).

Initially, the 5G network will cover select localities namely Mohammadpur, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Banani, Gulshan, Cantonment and Uttara under the Dhaka North City Corporation.

Similarly, Motijheel, Ramna, Shahbagh and Dhanmondi areas under the Dhaka South City Corporation will be covered as well.

In August, 2021, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the Tk2, 204-crore project for the state-owned Teletalk to expand its mobile network coverage to villages and for modernisation of the company’s operations to launch fifth-generation technology or 5G.

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