BTCL plans to introduce free WiFi in 1,216 unions

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited is planning to introduce free WiFi hotspots in 1,216 union parishads where it has its own fibre-optic connectivity, the state-owned telco's managing director today said on a Facebook Live video.

"We have submitted a project proposal to the government for free WiFi hotspots at union level. We are now waiting for the nod from the government," said Md Rafiqul Matin, managing director of BTCL.

Initially using the WiFi spots will be free of cost while the company will try to find partners for the project, he said.

Earlier in January, BTCL launched WiFi services at 146 public educational institutions in 23 districts, which was made free of cost for the first two years.

It was the first government project involving such a large number of colleges, universities, polytechnic and vocational training institutes, and the government now aims to set up such hotspots at 587 more educational institutions by June.

Matin today said that it is their duty to ensure quality service, which is why he hosted a Facebook Live with their customers and responded to about 450 questions and recommendations during the hour-long session.

In the session, the BTCL managing director apologised to his customers as they could not offer satisfactory services.

"I am regretful as we could not ensure the desired service quality for our customers," he said.

Matin also heard different complaints from the customers about some of their officers and said they would looked into those complaints.

He also said that complaints are now being received though mobile apps while the company has started online application process.

"Customers can get our connection sitting at home," Matin said.

"We have already ensured online billings and got a huge response from our 'Telesheba' mobile application," he added.