Teletalk 5G plan likely to get ECNEC nod

State-owned mobile operator Teletalk is going to expand and modernise its mobile networks to provide 5G services.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is likely to approve a project in this regard along with nine other projects today, a senior planning ministry official told The Business Post.

The posts and telecommunications ministry has sent a proposal to the Planning Commission worth of Tk 2,204.39 crore to expand Teletalk’s 4G networks to the rural areas and make preparation to roll out 5G services by 2023. Of the fund, Tk 2,144.06 crore will come from the state coffer and Tk 60.33 crore from Teletalk.

Teletalk will implement the project by November 2023. Sources said the project has been incorporated as an unapproved and non-allocated new project into the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for Fiscal Year 2021-22.

Under the proposal, 3,000 new Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) will be built along with other 500 sites for Teletalk. Two and a half thousand tower-sharing sites will also be installed.

The existing 3G and 4G mobile BTS site equipment will be upgraded to improve the capacity of customer service.

Existing 200 mobile BTS will be upgraded while 4G BTS will be added to the existing 1000 2G / 3G BTS, according to the proposal.

Other activities include installation 5,000 FWA devices to provide internet services to government offices, hospitals and educational institutions through installation of fixed wireless access technology and IP long-hall while short-hall microwave links will also be set up.

There are 17.64 crore cellphone subscribers and 12.09 crore internet users, according to BTRC. Over 11.01 crore are mobile internet users and 1.1 crore broadband users.

Meanwhile, nine projects including Sheikh Hasina Solar Park are likely to be placed before the ECNEC meeting. Under the project, a 100MW solar plant will be constructed in Jamalpur.

The cost of the project is estimated at Tk 1511.79 crore. Rubal Power Company Limited will implement the project by December 2023.