Teletalk plans to install around 400 solar-power based Base transceiver stations (BTS) in remote parts of the country to bring them under their network coverage.
To this end, the state-owned mobile operator has submitted a proposal to the posts and telecommunications division for gathering the necessary funds, said officials.
Teletalk Managing Director Kazi Md. Golam Quddus on Sunday told state-owned BSS news agency that they have already initiated the process to bring people of hard-to-reach areas under their network coverage.
"We will finalise this project as soon as possible after getting the source of financing," he added.
Quddus said they have planned to install over 400 Node B for expanding 3G network in country's remote areas including the Sundarbans, haors, forests, islands and parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Officials said the project dubbed as "Establishment of Solar Based Base stations in Hard-to-Reach Areas for strengthening Teletalk Network Coverage" has been approved in principle by the planning ministry.
The total cost of the project is set at Tk 2.70 billion, of which Tk 2.40 billion would be sourced as project assistance.
They said the Economic Relations Division (ERD) is working to source the finance of the project.
The initial cost of the project was set at Tk 1.80 billion under Indian line of credit in January, 2017, said officials.
The final cost was revised later for bringing more areas under their network.
Teletalk had a plan to run the project from October this year, but now it has to be revised due to source of funding.
Besides, the operator is implementing two projects to expand its 3G network across the country, although the work of the expansion is running slowly for not disbursing fund yet.
