The authorities will sign agreements with three companies by July 14 for installing 67,500 digital telephone lines in the capital under a Tk 636 crore Japanese-aided project, reports UNB.

Post and Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Nasim disclosed the government move in Parliament yesterday while replying to a series of questions about the future programmes in the telecoms sector.

The minister, however, did not mention the names of the companies with whom the government is going to enter into accords. He said the project would be completed within one and a half years time.

Nasim said the registered

demand of telephone in Dhaka city was 62,238 till May this Ksar. The demand would be ful-lled by the year 2000, he added.

He told the House that some 87.334 telephone Unes would be available for connection across the country during 1997-98 fiscal. Of them. 27.677 are in Dhaka and 22,769 in Chittagong.

He said the government will evaluate the quality of service by the existing mobile telephone companies before Issuing licence to new operators.

The demand for mobile telephones would also be considered as a pi (-condition for granting new licence. Nasim said. Of the three companies given licence recently, one has already started its operation from March 26 this year. The quality of service could be evaluated if the two others begin their operation. the minister said.

He said two private companies — Seba Telecom and Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority (BRTA) — were given contracts for Installing digital phones in all thanas.

But the progress in the project implementation and quality of works are not up to the mark. Nasim said. "In a number of cases, the two companies failed to install telephone lines on schedule."

The minister said the agreements with the two companies blocked the way for Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB). the state-run telecoms company, to operate at the thana level.

The government is unable to cancel the agreements which will remain In force for 25 years, he said and informed that the government is pressing the firms to finish their projects on schedule.

He also informed that a project for setting up 140.000 digital telephone lines in all the district headquarters was under active consideration of the government.

The project, for which the government is trying to arrange fund, is due to be completed in 1999. he told the House.

He said the private sector would be involved with the card phone system, which is delivering very good results. It has been decided that the system would be spread to village level with the help of the private sector. he said.

Referring to monopoly in the paging service. Nasim said the present government dismantled the monopoly on all services under the telecoms sector.

He informed that tender would be called to allow more companies in the paging service as well as pay-phone service.