Teletalk call charge may be re-fixed

[ict_of_bangladesh]

The government will re-fix the call rate of Teletalk mobile phone, if
necessary, after analyzing the market situation and other related
matters, Parliament was told yesterday.

Replying to Delwar Hossain Sayeedee (BNP-Pirojpur), Post and
Telecommunication Minister Barrister M Aminul Haque said the call rate
of Teletalk was still much lower than the private mobile phone
operators. "Besides, Teletalk also offer different facilities," he
said.

The minister informed the House that no agreement between the Teletalk
and other mobile phone operators has yet been signed.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) held two
meetings with the other mobile phone operators and formulated
significant guidelines for signing inter- connection agreement, he
said.

The four private mobile phone operators did not send back the approved
draft of the agreement to the Teletalk for signing the agreement, he
added.

The Telecommunications Minister told Tajul Islam and Mashiur Rahman
Ranga (Jatiya Party) that the matter of incoming call charge and high
call charge by private mobile phone operators, including GrameenPhone,
is now with the BTRC. "I think, the BTRC will take necessary action
to reduce the call rate (of private mobile operators) as early as
possible," he said.

Aminul Haque expressed his optimism that the network of Teletalk could
be expanded all over the country by the year 2007.

Replying to a supplementary of Moazzem Hossain Alal (BNP), he said the
government would take immediate steps to stop the international call
diversion system by a vested quarter of telephone operators.

"A vested quarter is involved with the international call diversion
crime. The Cabinet has already taken various measures and the BTTB
along with BTRC is working in this regard. I hope, the crime can be
curbed within a very short time," he said.

Responding to another supplementary of M Ali Sarker (Jatiya Party), the
minister said 180 upazilas have so far been brought under digital
connection and Internet facilities. The remaining upazilas will be
brought under digital connection and Internet network by the end of the
current fiscal year.

He told Dr Syed Makbul Hossain (Sylhet-6) that there is no money order
service between UK and Bangladesh.

The government has a plan to launch money transfer service for the
welfare of the expatriate Bangladeshis in UK, he said adding that the
government has already initiated a plan to introduce electronic
international money transfer service.

"Talks are on with a foreign company, Western Union, in this regard
and I hope, we'll be able to make a deal with the company very
soon," the minister said.

UNB