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South Asians talk telecoms problems, prospects

BSS, New Delhi
Delegates from South Asian countries here on Thursday discussed the problems and prospects of their telecommunications development at a US government-sponsored communication infrastructure conference for the region.
The participating countries exchanged experiences of 'similar' handicaps that tend to impede rapid progress.
Participating US officials told the new agency that the conference had achieved its objectives by providing the participating countries with the opportunity 'to talk and exchange notes on their experiences'.
Douglas M Shuster of South Asia desk in the US Trade and Development, said one of the objectives of the conference was for the American companies to push appropriate and low-cost technology.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took part in the conference.
The conference also provided an opportunity, said the US officials, for the companies in both the US and the region to look for possible partners.
Secretary of Bangladesh Post and Telecommunications Ministry Faruque Ahmad Siddiqui, who led Bangladesh delegation, in his presentation said Bangladesh achieved 'tremendous' development in telecommunications in the past two years.
He said the number of cell phone subscribers in Bangladesh rose to 23 lakh from about five lakh in two years while landline phones increased to nine lakh from 5.5 lakh.
With the transformation of the existing telephone department into a 100 percent public sector company the number of landline phone connections will simply jump, he said.
He said fixed line phones con-
nections will jump to 20 lakh in the next three years while cell phone services will be available to 50 lakh subscribers by that time.
He said rapid telecoms development is taking place in Bangladesh since the establishment of regulatory body in 2002, facilitating more investment in telecoms sector including in the fixed line system.
Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board [BTTB] Chairman Nurul Islam, Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission ([BTRC] Commissioner Rezaul Huq and GrameenPhone Director Khaled Mahmood were in the delegation.
Indian Telecommunications Ministry Secretary Nipendra Mishra and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman Pradeep Baijal explained the remarkable development that India attained in recent years in the sector.