BTCL to provide broadband connection to subscribers
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Bangladesh Telecommunica-tions Company Limited (BTCL) will start connecting land phones with broadband internet by December, a senior government official said Friday, reports bdnews24.com.
Telecommunications Secretary Iqbal Mahmood said internet connections would initially be given to some districts in addition to Dhaka.
Mahmood said 26 telephone exchanges were being prepared for the service.
The state-run company will use Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology that helps landline users access phone and internet on the same line, a senior BTCL official said.
The users will have to install a modem costing up to Tk 5,000 for the service.
The speedy internet connection will be available for BTCL phone users at a competitive price.
A BTCL official preferring anonymity said users of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi, Bogra and some other districts would get broadband internet access initially.
He said the BTCL would charge less than that of any private company for the service.
Digital phone users can use dial-up internet without any connection fee. It charges Tk 0.10 per minute in off-peak hours, Tk 0.15 during peak hours and Tk 6 and Tk 9 per hour respectively.
BTCL provides digital data network service in 71 areas in 41 districts.
Internet service providers have over 1.0 million (10 lakh) subscribers and BTCL has about 30,000 internet users.
Mobile phone and PSTN operators have approximately 5.0 million (50 lakh) internet users.
The government is going to allow 170 more private firms to provide internet connections.
Telecommunications Secretary Iqbal Mahmood said internet connections would initially be given to some districts in addition to Dhaka.
Mahmood said 26 telephone exchanges were being prepared for the service.
The state-run company will use Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology that helps landline users access phone and internet on the same line, a senior BTCL official said.
The users will have to install a modem costing up to Tk 5,000 for the service.
The speedy internet connection will be available for BTCL phone users at a competitive price.
A BTCL official preferring anonymity said users of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi, Bogra and some other districts would get broadband internet access initially.
He said the BTCL would charge less than that of any private company for the service.
Digital phone users can use dial-up internet without any connection fee. It charges Tk 0.10 per minute in off-peak hours, Tk 0.15 during peak hours and Tk 6 and Tk 9 per hour respectively.
BTCL provides digital data network service in 71 areas in 41 districts.
Internet service providers have over 1.0 million (10 lakh) subscribers and BTCL has about 30,000 internet users.
Mobile phone and PSTN operators have approximately 5.0 million (50 lakh) internet users.
The government is going to allow 170 more private firms to provide internet connections.