Details of Teletalk 3G launch: Dhaka only for first three months

Following the announcement that Bangladeshi state-owned cellco Teletalk will introduce the country’s first W-CDMA-based 3G service in July, further details of the trial launch have emerged. Contrary to original plans to roll out initial coverage to several divisional centres, Teletalk will begin offering 3G in the capital city, Dhaka, before aiming to expand coverage to other divisional headquarters by October, with Chittagong earmarked to receive services next, managing director Mujibur Rahman told bdnews24.com. The official indicated that the company was aiming for over 300,000 consumers to use the service in the capital. Teletalk, a minnow in the GSM market, has been granted a headstart in the W-CDMA/HSPA market ahead of an auction for UMTS licences in the private sector in September.