Cellphone operators will widen their network reach to the residents of most upazilas in hill districts, who had long been left out of mobile phone communication.

The much-hyped good news for the people of the country's extensive hilly areas came yesterday, as the telecom watchdog announced to introduce mobile services in 23 upazilas out of 25 in three districts.

In a statement Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) said the service will be made available gradually in two other upazilas -- Barkal and Baghai Sari of Rangamati district.

In March last year, the government partially allowed telephone services in the metropolitan areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) that combine Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts.

Mobile phone will change the socio-economic condi-

tion of the areas, said BTRC Chairman Manzurul Alam.

The BTRC announcement means all mobile operators are now allowed to expand their network to these areas.

The three districts were deprived of mobile services since the launch ofthe service in 1991 in Bangladesh as the government did not take any initiative in this regard until 2007 on national security ground.

Mobile phone operators estimate that currently around eight lakh people in these areas of 20 lakh population can subscribe mobile connection.

"We welcome the government initiative. Grameenphone already has coverage in the three hill districts and will try to expand network to the new areas as soon as possible," said Syed Yamin Bakht, director (public relations) ofthe company.

Presently, around 43.96 million people of the country's 150 million population enjoy mobile phone services, according to data as of November.