State-run telecom operator Teletalk is planning to launch much awaiting third generation of mobile technology as pilot basis without changing its present call charge before Independence Day on March 26.
‘We are planning to start piloting of 3G in Dhaka and Chittagong first and to expand the technology for entire country later on,’ Teletalk managing director M Mujibur Rahman told the news agency on Friday.
‘Our main goal is to provide 3G technology to our subscribers keeping the present call charge unchanged as everyone can get fruit of the new technology,’ the Teletalk chief said.
Teletalk has taken the initiative following the government’s high up decision on August 9 to pilot the 3G technology using networks of the state-run mobile operator first.
On the same day, a meeting, headed by prime minister Sheikh Hasina, also decided to go for open auction for both local and foreign mobile operators to award 3G licences after successful completion of the piloting of the Teletalk.
As per the decision, the Teletalk has taken a Tk 1,900-crore project to launch the 3G. Of the total amount, Teletalk will get Tk 1,477 crore from China Exim Bank as soft loan and rest of the money from its own fund.
The public mobile operator has to repay the debt under two per cent interest rate by 20 years with 4 years of grace period, Teletalk official sources said.
Presently, the Teletalk managing director, said they are conducting survey across the country to get an overview of requirements of new telephone towers for running the new technology smoothly.
‘Initially we have estimated that we need to install 2,500 more new telecom towers apart from our existing about 1800 towers to provide 3G across the country,’ Mujibur said.
He said availability of 3G telephony is a must for realising the long-term vision of the present government’s ‘Digital Bangladesh’ campaign by 2021 as the modern technology has the capacity of transferring any data within the soonest possible time.
‘At present, we can talk over mobile phone but with 3G the video calls will be easier like audio,’ he said.
The 3G is the high profile mobile phone technology which can transfer data for both audio and video purposes faster with greater quality and it will be a highway for internet.
Any kind of large data can be transferred
-With BSS/New Age input
