PM switches on 1.39 lakh Digital lines today

The nagging scarcity of fixed line phones is likely to ease up a bit as the state-owned Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) will switch on 1.39 lakh digital lines in Dhaka and outside today.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the expansion programme that aims to increase the number of new lines to 2.66 lakh.

The BTTB had awarded the job to a Canada-Turkey joint venture, Nortel Networks Netas, at a cost of $19.5 million. Chief Executive Officer of Netas Sait Gozum will also be present at the inauguration ceremony.

BTTB officials said a substantial number of telephones under the project has already been in service in the capital.

Subscribers of the new lines will have the caller line identification protocol (CLIP) by which they would be able to note the numbers of callers.

BTTB officials however said the exchanges would bring a little impact as some 2.11 lakh applications for phone lines are pending.

Currently, around eight lakh fixed line telephones exist.