A new 1000-line telephone exchange has started functioning at Barisal digital telephone exchange.

Another 2000-line exchange will be operative in two weeks.

With functioning of the two new exchanges, Barisal divisional digital telephone exchange will fully overcome the breakdown caused by a technical glitche on December 15 last year.

On that day, about 4700 lines abruptly went out of order as the hard disc drive (HDD) of the central processing unit (CPU) at the exchange crashed. The exchange was installed by an Italian company--Ital Tel--in 1996.

Jagadish Chandra Mandol, Divisional Executive Engineer (DET), Barisal T & T said, the two new exchanges are installed by ZT Company of China and have in-built technical facilities like Caller ID, meter reading, secure locking and improved voice quality.

He said renovation work was delayed by hartals.

After completion of the two new exchanges, another 7000-line exchange will be installed, which will fully meet subscribers' demand.