Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh government is likely to issue licence for laying the second submarine cable by December, 2008 to expand Internet network across the country, officials said.

“We have received 13 proposals for establishment of submarine cable under private management,” a state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) top official was quoted by the Financial Express, the country’s lone financial daily, as saying.

The official also said India’s Tata Telecom, Reliance Communication, Mahanagar Telecommunication, Egypt’s Orascom and Hong Kong’s PCCW are among the contenders for installing the alternative submarine cable.

The country’s telecom regulator invited proposals on installation of submarine cable under private management in March last and set June 15 as the deadline for submission of proposals. But the time was later extended to June 29.

Bangladesh is connected with the “SEA-ME-WE-4” cable system, now used by 16 telecoms firms in 14 countries.

BBN/SI/SI/AD/JULY08-22:28