Tech body to study feasibility of Teletalk expansion project

The Board of Directors of Teletalk yesterday formed a technical committee to evaluate its much-awaited Tk550crore network expansion project.
The seven-member body, headed by Professor Satya Prasad Majumder of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Buet (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology), will recommend for necessary technical procurement for expansion after a feasibility study.
Majumder told The Daily Star last night," The committee will also examine how such procurement will be completed to expand the state-run cell phone operator's network."
The Teletalk Board approved this project in November eyeing to reach out to 18 lakh more subscribers by the end of 2008.
The first-ever state run mobile phone operator witnessed a dull subscription since its commercial debut in March 2005.
According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Teletalk has been able to reach only a 0.76million subscription base up to November, 2007, whereas its close rival Warid Telecom International reached out 1.95million customers, although it entered the market in 2007. A Teletak high official said, "Definitely it is embarrassing for us to have only 2percent market share."
The fund for the Teletalk expansion programme will be mobilised through floating IPO in the capital market.
The public holding company has already established its network foothold in 336 upazilas of 61 districts with an expenditure of Tk800 crore.