ZCZC
BSS-12
RAILWAY-OPTICAL-FIBER
Railway to lay 575km optical fiber in 16 districts
DHAKA, July 3, 2018 (BSS) – With the aim of establishing a combined and uniform rail telecommunication system, Bangladesh Railway (BR) has launched a development project to lay 575 kilometers optical fiber on its secondary routes.
“The secondary cables would not only ensure uninterrupted telecommunication connectivity, but also boost BR’s revenue along with operational safety and commercial activities,” a BR official who is familiar with the project told BSS.
He said the secondary lines connected with copper cables have been posing difficulties of getting quality services as the remaining network was upgraded with fiber optic cable much earlier.
The optical fiber project will be implemented in 16 districts under Dhaka, Mymensing, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions with high density polythene (HDPE) pipe, added the official.
BR has taken the move to lease out the unused capacity of optical fiber to different telecommunication operators, as it has Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) license.
With Taka 68.72 crore, entirely financed by the government, BR will implement the project by June 2020 as the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already given final approval to it.
Of the total of 575km optical fiber, 52.11km will be laid down on Poudirpur to Mohanganj route, 21.16km on Shyamganj to Jhariajhanjhail, 37.59km on Tarakandi to East Section of Bangabandhu Bridge, 49.19km on Laksam to Noakhali, 2.09km on Fateyabad to Chattogram University, 101.59km on Dinajpur to Panchagar, 6.01km on Kanchan to Birol, 52.20km on Syedpur to Chilahati, 84.33km on Lalmonirhat to Burimari, 47.57km on Teesta Junction to Ramna Bazar, 11.47km on Pachuria to Goalanda, 35.02km on Jessore to Benpole, 50.02km on Rajshahi to Chapainawabganj and 25.16km on Amnura to Rahanpur.
In 1992, with the grant of Norwegian government, BR developed an optical fiber based comprehensive telecommunication system. That time, BR had laid down own optical fiber network combining 1,600km composite cables (optical and copper cables) and 200km copper cable for own purpose.
Later in 1997, BR’s unutilized capacity was leased out to private telecom operator Grameenphone to boost revenue. Subsequently, the BR and Grameenphone jointly laid another 409km optical fibre network, which is commercially being used by Grameenphone. Very recently, BR has expanded the network by another 400km, which will also be leased out to telecoms for commercial use as the process is now going on.
BSS/SPL/MAK/GA/1748 hrs