Tarana tells Parliament govt will rebrand Teletalk to offset Tk 4 billion loss

The government will rebrand Teletalk with an aim to get the state-run mobile-phone operator, reeling under a loss of around Tk 4 billion, back on its own feet, Tarana Halim has said.

Teletalk will get a room at every post office as part of the rebranding, the state minister for posts and telecommunications said.
 
She was answering to a supplementary question in Parliament on Thursday.

Jatiya Party MP Kazi Firoz Rashid told Parliament the government institutions are getting weak. "SIM registration is not the ministry's only job. Supervising these institutions is also its responsibility," he said.
 
But Tarana defended her ministry, saying it is not only registering SIMs. “It is also working to put Teletalk on its feet."
 
The state minister expressed frustration while speaking on the over Tk 3.99 billion loss of Teletalk.
 
"We are really frustrated. Why couldn't Teletalk stand on its own feet after so many days? Its profit will remain in the country," she said.
 
Despite the government facilities it enjoys, Teletalk has the smallest subscription base of only 4.1 million out of 131.4 million mobile-phone users.
 
It offers smart call rates, but weak network and marketing plan means it is failing to draw new subscribers.
 
Minister Tarana told Parliament she sought soft loans and investments for the development of Teletalk during her recent visit to South Korea.
 
She also hoped that Teletalk's 'connectivity' would increase with the introduction of MNP facility where a subscriber can change operators retaining the number.
 
"We'll be able to take Teletalk to the grassroots if we can share towers," she said.
 
Tarana said the work to widen Teletalks's network through partnership with the private operators was underway.
 
"All Upazila headquarters and highways will be brought under 3G network by this December. 2G network will also be expanded into rural areas," she added.