The state-run mobile operator Teletalk is preparing to launch the fourth generation (4G) mobile service in big cities across the country by August this year.

This was disclosed at the meeting of parliamentary standing committee on Post Telecommunication and Information Technology ministry today.

During the meeting, the committee criticised the lone state-run operator over progress of implementing 4G services, because the competing companies already began to deliver the service from February.

“We think they can’t create an impact as the state-owned operator has almost no investment in this service,” said Kazi Firoz Rashid, a member of the committee.

The sate-owned operator launched the 3G service before other private operators in 2012 under the blessing of the special facilities of the then government.

In the meeting, Teletalk Managing Director Kazi Md Golam Quddus said Tk 200 crore has been collected from internal sources, which will be enough to bring 1,100 cities under 4G services.

“By August we will be ready to launch 4G service in big cities,” said Quddus in the meeting.

On the other hand, Rashid, also a Jatiya Party lawmaker, said Tk 200 crore is nothing compared to the sum invested by privately-run companies.

While talking to The daily Star, he criticised Teletalk’s service quality and said “outside Dhaka it has hardly any service”.