The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

State-owned mobile phone company Teletalk Ltd has taken up an ambitious plan to release 30 lakh more SIMs in the market at a cost of 20 crore dollars, which is likely to come from donors as soft-term loans, company officials said yesterday.

The work for expanding its network and setting up establishment for connecting 18 lakh SIMs would be completed by December, Chairman of Teletalk board and Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Iqbal Mahmud told BSS.

Teletalk is likely to make a profit of Taka 32 crore during the current fiscal with the improvement of its devices and expansion of networks, Mahmud said, adding it would be the first profit by the company.

He said the Teletalk administration is also being recast. To bring transparency in the recruitment process, written tests and interviews are being taken simultaneously for new applicants, the telecom secretary said.

Mahmud said only merit is being taken into consideration without any lobbying for recruitment. Meanwhile, 25 officials of Teletalk on deputation from the former BTTB, now renamed BTCL, are being sent back there.