The Chinese government has agreed to provide loans amounting to $211 million to Bangladeshi state-run mobile operator Teletalk in order to help it develop its 3G network. China will provide the soft loan through the China Exim Bank by 2012, at an interest rate of 2 per cent and a loan repayment period of 20 years. Teletalk will be required to import all equipment for its 3G expansion from Chinese vendors, with the China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation having the authority to select the suppliers. Bangladesh expects to auction 3G licences by June 2010 after the regulatory framework is in place.
