The State Minister for the Post and Telecommunications Division Tarana Halim has said all-round initiatives have been taken to change affairs of the state-owned mobile phone operator Teletalk. There were widespread allegations that illegal VoIP (voice-over-internet protocol) businesses are being conducted with Teletalk SIM cards. But the state minister said that Teletalk has been able to purge itself of the scandal regarding the illegal VoIP business.

“It would not be possible to improve the network quality of the state-owned company until the telecom ministry receives the Tk 610 crore approved by the ECNEC,” Tarana Halim told The Independent on Tuesday. The state minister ruled out foreign investment, saying, “We tried but could not accept it, as foreign investors wanted a majority share in the company. Now, we have to do whatever is needed.” When asked how Teletalk would attract customers without improving its network quality, the state minister conceded it would not be possible to improve the quality of network without money.  

She said the network quality would improve if the finance minister extends a helping hand. The Prime Minister has been very considerate in this regard, she added.

In September, the ECNEC approved Tk 610 crore for a Teletalk project to establish 1,200 stations capable of providing 3G and 4G services along with 500 2G towers.

Tarana Halim said the Prime Minister told everyone to consider Teletalk a government service provider and not a business entity. The state-owned operator's revenue is fast shrinking as customers complain of poor service. In FY2016-17, Teletalk's revenue shrank by about 28 per cent year-on-year to Tk 710 crore—the lowest in three years. It also lost about 12.3 lakh active connections, which is 27.72 per cent of its subscribers, according to a BTRC report. “Teletalk is moving backwards every day,” Tarana Halim said.