BTCL likely to launch 'triple-play' service

State-run Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) is set to launch a "triple-play service" providing video and data facilities alongside the voice transmission through a single network, officials said on Monday. "The project is expected to get the ECNEC approval in its meeting tomorrow," a planning ministry official familiar with the process said. BTCL officials, meanwhile, said the project mainly focused on establishing modern telecommunication facility, expanding tele-density and tele-access as well as information and communication technology services for the people. "We plan to implement the project by June, 2020 upon getting the approval from ECNEC," a BTCL official said. He said the Telecommunication Network Modernisation for Digital Connection involved Tk 25.73 billion (2,573 crore", and of the amount the government would provide Taka 7.56 billion from the national exchequer and the remaining Taka 1.817 billion would come as project assistance from China. The existing BTCL network currently could offer only the voice service while its video and data services quality were far from the modern time demands. The officials said that the government has initiated the new project to upgrade the existing equipment, replace copper cable-based network by fiber optic cable and modern transmission system of BTCL to comply with the vision-2021. — BSS