Moves underway to brush aside operators’ 4G guideline concerns
DHAKA, Oct. 3 (NsNewsWire) —With only two months left for the stakeholders concerned to technologically upgrade and prepare to catch up with 4G roll-out, State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim confidently said Tuesday moves are underway to ease the cell phone operators’ concerns over 4G guidelines.
Addressing a views-exchange meeting with the office bearers of Telecom Reporters’ Network of Bangladesh or TRNB and its members, Tarana Halim renewed her commitment to complete the roll-out of 4G within this year.
“We’re scrutinizing the guidelines to address further their concerns through some word-change amendments,” she said.
“Misunderstanding” and “misconception” caused such concerns to some extent from the end of the operators, she added.
She passed the remarks as the operators have aired at least 24 issues of concern regarding the guideline on 4G services recently.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last month approved the guideline for 4G or the fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology, with spectrum prices, paving the way for the telecom regulator to stage an open auction at its earliest.
“Further elaboration will be made to address the operators’ CSR (corporate social responsibility), investment, pricing and other concerns.”
Replying to a query, Tarana Halim said Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service will be available in the next three to four months after the launching of 4G services.
Highlighting her ministry’s various development activities, the state minister said they are building International Mobile Equipment Identity Database (IMEI DB).
Meanwhile, she said steps are also underway to lock mobile handsets brought into the country through informal channels. After the implementation of this, she said illegal mobile handsets cant be used in the country.
She, however, decried shabby Teletalk situation and expressed her frustration as the relevant ministry is yet to approve 6.10 billion taka network expansion fund for the state-owned mobile operator.
Rased Mehedi, president, Shamim Ahmed, general secretary, of TRNB, among others, were present in the view exchange meeting held at the conference room of the ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat in capital Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon.