Dhaka: Teletalk Managing Director Nurul Mabud Chowdhury has announced that the state-owned mobile operator does not rely on government subsidies for its operational expenses, maintaining its activities through its own revenue.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chowdhury addressed widespread discussions about Teletalk's performance compared to the country's private operators. He emphasized that Teletalk is the only government operator competing with world-class telecom giants to maintain its market share. Currently, Teletalk has 0.68 crore subscribers, while the leading private operators Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink have 8.44 crore, 5.73 crore, and 3.73 crore subscribers, respectively.
Chowdhury responded to criticism regarding Teletalk's growth, referencing the public interest that followed its launch in 2005. He recalled his experience in the telecom sector since 1991 and noted that Bangladesh's mobile network journey began in 1996 with three operators. He questioned why mobile operators in other countries did not start by giving licenses solely to private entities without including a government operator.
Chowdhury highlighted the challenges faced by Teletalk, which began operations nearly a decade after its competitors, who had already expanded significantly. Despite its small market share, he questioned the necessity of disbanding Teletalk, given the initial public enthusiasm and the continued demand for its services.
Addressing spectrum issues, Chowdhury clarified misconceptions about spectrum allocation, stating that Teletalk received its spectrum like other operators, and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has plans for spectrum rearrangement. He emphasized that the government's investment in Teletalk, excluding ongoing projects, stands at nearly Tk 5,000 crore, with Tk 1,000 crore being Teletalk's own investment.
Chowdhury pointed out that despite frequency shortages, particularly in underserved regions, Teletalk has strategic plans involving newly acquired spectrum to enhance its network. He expressed optimism for future improvements, contingent on receiving necessary investments, and confirmed that a five-year plan has been submitted to the government for approval.