The Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (MOPT) yesterday postponed the meeting between the ministry and representatives of five private telephone operators just a few hours before the scheduled time.

The meeting was convened by MOPT to discuss bilateral issues including interconnection facilities and operational obstacles.

The telecom operators were Informed of the postponement of the meeting over telephone just a few hours before the time of the meeting.

The MOPT had informed the participants about the agenda of the meeting on January 25.

The problem of interconnection is closely related with the call generated by the cellular operators vis-a-vis the fixed network of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB). because the fixed network of BTTB is not sufficiently equipped to absorb the additional traffic.

The MOPT did not mention anything about the reason behind the postponement of the meeting. It. however, said that a fresh date for the meeting would be announced soon, officials said.

Home. Post and Telecom Minister Mohammad Nasim, directed the ministry officials to postpone the meeting, an official told the Daily Star yesterday.

The meeting, first of its kind between the regulators and operators since private operators ■started business in the country, was to discuss the common problem of five private operators.-To reduce the problems of congestion at the interconnection points, additional equipment need to be Installed on the fixed side and the tariff on calls entering the mobile networks need to be made on a perminute basis, experts said.

The mobile operators have been facing acute problems and users have l>een barred from access by Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) due to lack of interconnections’.

Earlier, different private operators expressed their apprehension that their local and foreign investment might go in vain, if they are denied necessary decision and use of physical' infrastructure of BTTB without delay.

The meeting was also likely to take decisions pertaining to building up an effective network to provide Inter-connections. inter-town telecommunication. related facilities, a Sosal of Grameen Phone, satlon of penalty from Sheba Telecom (cellular phone).

The agenda of the meeting also included: possibilities of sharing BTTBs physical infrastructure Including building of microwave towers.

Decision makers of private operators .including Grameen Phone. TMIB, Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority. (BRTA). Sheba Telecom and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited (PBTL) were ready to discuss many other business related sensitive’ Issue in the meeting.

There are more than 1.16.200 mobile phone users in the country whose number has been increasing day by day.