BTTB proposes call rates for its cellphones

Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) has proposed the tariffs for its postpaid and prepaid cellphones at Tk 3 and Tk 5 per minute, sources said.

"The BTTB has submitted the rate to Bangladesh Telecom-munications Regulatory Commi-ssion (BTRC)," a BTRC official told The Daily Star yesterday.

"We will discuss the matter on Saturday," the official said asking not to be identified.

The BTTB, which has failed to launch its much-talked-about 2.5 lakh GSM (global system for mobile communications) cellphones by December 16, has extended the deadline until December 30, unconfirmed sources said.

When contacted, BTTB Chairman Nurul Islam expressed his ignorance about the possible date for the launch. He suggested talking to the telecommunications minister to know about the service.

Sources said BTTB is trying to soft-launch the service by this year, but the service will be made available to public by early next year.

All the four private operators have meanwhile agreed in principle to provide interconnections to the BTTB's mobile phone.

"We've agreed to provide the service as a courtesy but it will require signing of an agreement with us before commercial launching," an official of Association of Telecom Operators, Bangladesh (ATOB) told The Daily Star.

BTTB's mobile phone has created a lot of hype because of its proposed low call tariff in comparison with private operators.

The BTTB will announce the tariffs and offer the package after getting approval from the BTRC.