Dhaka: State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim on Tuesday said the government would introduce the 4^th generation (4G) mobile phone service in Bangladesh within this year, reported BSS.

Tarana made the assertion while replying to a question of treasury bench member Begum Mahjabin Khaled in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Besides the state-owned mobile operator company Teletalk, she said, the government has given approval to other four private mobile operators to run the service, she said.

The four companies are - Grameenphone Bangladesh, Robi Axiata Limited, Banglalink Digital Communications limited and Airtel Bangladesh Limited.

Replying to another question from AKM Maidul Islam of Jatiya Party, Tarana said, for introducing 4G networks, a project called ‘Wireless Broadband Network Establish Project’ is underway.

Primarily, the service will be provided at divisional level, district headquarters and at all upazilas and some unions, she said.

Moreover, three projects are in progress under Bangladesh Telecommunications

Company Limited (BTCL) she said adding, these projects would play a vital role expanding strong telecommunication network across the country.

The projects are - Optical Fiber Development project at 1000 union, optical fibre network development project at upazila level and optical fiber network development project at 290 upazilas.