Billions of taka lying idle with the BTRC will be spent to set up Wi-Fi hotspots and internet connections in remote areas, and telecoms services at the time of natural disasters, the government says.
After the issue of the unused money was raised in a recent bdnews24.com dialogue, Minister of State for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim said she would arrange to spend the funds.
On Wednesday, Halim, who attended the Aug 29 discussion, spoke to Telecom Reporters Network Bangladesh about her plan to use the money.
It would be used to expand and develop telecoms and ICT, she said.
“There are only a few schools in remote areas…tea gardens. We will build computer villages or computer haats in Haor areas, flood-prone areas,” Tarana Halim said.
“There will be computers, connectivity. Villagers will get free training. It will be like a school so that children will grow up with the knowledge of computers,” she added.
The minister said she planned to give computers and internet connections to old-age homes.
The government was also thinking of setting up WiFi hotspots in several areas, she added.
BTRC started raising the money in December 2012 by tapping 1 percent of mobile phone operators’ income to expand telecommunications.
Minister Halim also spoke about her plans to strengthen state-owned mobile phone operator Teletalk operations.
“Making Teletalk competitive in the market is one of our biggest challenges,” she said.