Finance
Bangladesh 5G ECNEC approves Rs 1059 cr project to strengthen 5G capable transmission network in Bangladesh
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, February 23: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a project of Rs 1059 crore 10 lakh to strengthen the optical fiber transmission network of Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) with a view to building suitable 5G infrastructure.
The project was approved at an ECNEC meeting chaired by ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar NEC meeting room in the capital on Tuesday. The Prime Minister attended the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
After the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan briefed reporters on the approved project. He said a total of ten projects were given final approval at the meeting. The implementation cost of these ten projects has been estimated at 8,804 crore 10 lakh rupees. Of this, government funding will be Rs 8,515 crore 87 lakh, foreign funding will be Rs 167 crore 45 lakh and the company's own funding will be Rs 120 crore 78 lakh.
Regarding the implementation of BTCL's Optical Fiber Transmission Network project for utilization of 5G, MA Mannan said that the main objective of the project is to provide uninterrupted state-of-the-art telecommunication and modern broadband internet facilities across the country. In addition, it will be possible to develop and expand BTCL's optical fiber transmission network to meet the growing demand. BTCL will implement the project across the country from January 2022 to December 2024.
The planning minister said the data transmission speed at the upazila level would be increased to 100 gigabytes per second (Gbps) through the implementation of the project. Superfast mobile service will provide maximum data rates up to 20 Gbps, through which all types of devices can be connected.
He said during the meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the concerned parties to expand 5G network and strengthen 4G network in the country. At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasized on expediting the launch of Bangabandhu II satellite.
The government also called for a gradual exit from the main subsidy system in the power and energy sectors.
"Subsidies are a serious issue and we must get out of this subsidy system. The process will start and it will have to be done slowly,” said MA Mannan, adding that, "The government is subsidizing many sectors and the Prime Minister has suggested that the subsidy trend should be financially viable and acceptable."
