Country Presentation BangladeshCountry Presentation Bangladesh

Access to Internet: Bangladesh Access to Internet: Bangladesh Perspective Perspective

Presented by:Presented by:

Akber HossainAkber HossainSenior Assistant Secretary Senior Assistant Secretary

Government of the People’s Republic of BangladeshGovernment of the People’s Republic of BangladeshMinistry of Science and Information & Communication Technology (MoSICT)Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology (MoSICT)

Phone: +880-2-9566571, Fax: +880-2-71619606Phone: +880-2-9566571, Fax: +880-2-71619606E-mail:E-mail: most@bangla.net most@bangla.net Web site:Web site: http://www.mosict.gov.bdhttp://www.mosict.gov.bd

Global indicators workshop on community access to ICTsGlobal indicators workshop on community access to ICTsMexico CityMexico City

16-19 November 200416-19 November 2004

CountryCountry ProfileProfile

1. Area : 144000 Sq.Km1. Area : 144000 Sq.Km

2. Population 2. Population : 123.15* Million : 123.15* Million

3. Population density : about 880/ sq. Km.3. Population density : about 880/ sq. Km.

4. Divisions : 64. Divisions : 6

5. Districts : 645. Districts : 64

6. Sub Districts (Upazila) : 4656. Sub Districts (Upazila) : 465

7. Unions (rural) : 44847. Unions (rural) : 4484

8. Villages (rural) : 873198. Villages (rural) : 87319

9. Municipalities (urban ) : 2239. Municipalities (urban ) : 223

10. City Corporation :610. City Corporation :6

11.Per capita GDP11.Per capita GDP : About USD 346 : About USD 346

* Source: Population Census 2001* Source: Population Census 2001

Telecom Infrastructure in BangladeshTelecom Infrastructure in Bangladesh Fixed line Telephone : 0.83 Million, (digital: 0.79 M) (Public Sector)Fixed line Telephone : 0.83 Million, (digital: 0.79 M) (Public Sector) Digitalized District : 64Digitalized District : 64 Digitalized Sub district : 165 ( out of 465, 100% Coverage will be within Digitalized Sub district : 165 ( out of 465, 100% Coverage will be within

2005)2005) Mobile Telephone : 3.00 Million (Private Sector Mobile Telephone : 3.00 Million (Private Sector Teledensity : 2.90 line per 100 people (PSTN & Mobile) Teledensity : 2.90 line per 100 people (PSTN & Mobile) Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission established in Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission established in

20022002 Telephone call charge reduced significantly Telephone call charge reduced significantly Recently fixed line phone sector has been opened for private sector Recently fixed line phone sector has been opened for private sector

investment.investment. Mobile telecoverage reaches most of the rural areasMobile telecoverage reaches most of the rural areas 82000 Grameen Phone serving remotest areas82000 Grameen Phone serving remotest areas Recently VOIP legalizedRecently VOIP legalized

Telecom Infrastructure in Bangladesh contd..Telecom Infrastructure in Bangladesh contd..

1800 KM fibre optic cable under Bangladesh Railway is being utilizad 1800 KM fibre optic cable under Bangladesh Railway is being utilizad

by the private mobile telephone operatorby the private mobile telephone operator

Fibre optic link between few districts existing under BTTBFibre optic link between few districts existing under BTTB

Packet Switching Exchange in 9 big District HQ established for data Packet Switching Exchange in 9 big District HQ established for data

communication by BTTBcommunication by BTTB

Etablishment of DDN Node in 17 district under progressEtablishment of DDN Node in 17 district under progress

BTTB’s 1 million mobile phone project is yet to be implemented in BTTB’s 1 million mobile phone project is yet to be implemented in

20052005

Fibre optic link between all district is planned by BTTBFibre optic link between all district is planned by BTTB

InternetInternet

First introduced in 1996First introduced in 1996 Number of ISPs : 159 ( 64 are actively providing services)Number of ISPs : 159 ( 64 are actively providing services) 80% ISPs are located at capital Dhaka80% ISPs are located at capital Dhaka Government owned Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) has extended ISP services to Government owned Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) has extended ISP services to

all 64 district HQ and 165 Sub district HQ out of 465all 64 district HQ and 165 Sub district HQ out of 465 ISP Subscriber : 0.2 Million(10% are broad band available only at Dhaka and ISP Subscriber : 0.2 Million(10% are broad band available only at Dhaka and

Chittagong City area and rest are dial up)Chittagong City area and rest are dial up) Number of Internet users 2 MillionNumber of Internet users 2 Million Bandwidth range: Dial up-32kbps to 56 kbps, BB-64kbps to 8 mbpsBandwidth range: Dial up-32kbps to 56 kbps, BB-64kbps to 8 mbps Technology uses: VSATTechnology uses: VSAT Submarine cable yet to be connected in 2005Submarine cable yet to be connected in 2005 PC Penetration rate is very low: 1.5 Sets /1000 PeoplesPC Penetration rate is very low: 1.5 Sets /1000 Peoples Internet connection slow and costly, not affordable by general peopleInternet connection slow and costly, not affordable by general people Establishment of Internet Exchange is under implementationEstablishment of Internet Exchange is under implementation

Internet in rural areasInternet in rural areas

Villages and Unions where 80% of the rural peoples lives are still out of reach Villages and Unions where 80% of the rural peoples lives are still out of reach of internet facilities of internet facilities

In a very few places of these rural areas some NGOs are working for internet In a very few places of these rural areas some NGOs are working for internet connectivity, such as: connectivity, such as:

Grameen communication (ISP)Grameen communication (ISP)Village e-mail ServicesVillage e-mail Services

Village internet ProgramVillage internet ProgramVillage cyber kioskVillage cyber kiosk

www.grameen-info.org/gc

Grameen Shakti (ISP)Grameen Shakti (ISP)Village e-mail ServicesVillage e-mail Services

Village internet ProgramVillage internet Program www.gshakti.com

Community e-CentresCommunity e-Centres

At present Government do not have any Community e-Centres programAt present Government do not have any Community e-Centres program Ministry of Science and ICT has taken a program to set up few centres as Ministry of Science and ICT has taken a program to set up few centres as

pilot basis in cooperation with ADB and Commonwealth Secretariat.pilot basis in cooperation with ADB and Commonwealth Secretariat. Some NGOs and SDNP of UNDP has setup very few centres where access Some NGOs and SDNP of UNDP has setup very few centres where access

to internet by community availableto internet by community available Cyber Cafes are working as Community e- CentresCyber Cafes are working as Community e- Centres Approximately 500 Cyber Cafes are in operation, most of them are located Approximately 500 Cyber Cafes are in operation, most of them are located

at Dhaka and Chittagong Cityat Dhaka and Chittagong City Some are in other District HQSome are in other District HQ A very few are in the Sub district levelA very few are in the Sub district level

ICT in BangladeshICT in Bangladesh

ICT has been declared as the ICT has been declared as the thrust sectorthrust sector by the by the

Government. Government. A A National ICT Task ForceNational ICT Task Force, headed by the , headed by the

Honorable Prime Minister herself leads the ICT Honorable Prime Minister herself leads the ICT initiatives in the country. initiatives in the country.

National ICT Policy 2002National ICT Policy 2002

This Policy aims at building an ICT-driven nation comprising of knowledge-based society by the year 2006. In view of this, a country-wide ICT-infrastructure will be developed to ensure access to information by every citizen to facilitate empowerment of people and enhance democratic values and norms for sustainable economic development by using the infrastructure for human resources development, governance, e-commerce, banking, public utility services and all sorts of on-line ICT-enabled services.

Policy Statements regarding community Policy Statements regarding community access to the internetaccess to the internet

(3.2.16 )The Internet facility will be extended to all the district headquarters and subsequently to its adjacent areas upto Subdistrict levels. (3.2.17) Internet will be provided to the educational institutions and libraries.To ensure public access to information, Cyber Kiosks will be set up in all Post offices, Union complex and Upzila complex. Private sector participation will be encouraged to set up these facilities.

Indicators of Community AccessIndicators of Community Access

No authenticated surveys has been done so far to asses the needs of No authenticated surveys has been done so far to asses the needs of

community to access to the internet.community to access to the internet.

As per ITU Digital Access Index 2002 the position of Bangladesh is 0.18As per ITU Digital Access Index 2002 the position of Bangladesh is 0.18

Major government efforts are in the field of Infrastructure development Major government efforts are in the field of Infrastructure development

and HRD in ICTand HRD in ICT

Common peoples, specially the young, are very much enthusiastic to the Common peoples, specially the young, are very much enthusiastic to the

access to the internetaccess to the internet

11stst Bangladesh Internet Fair in April 2004 conducted by the ISP Bangladesh Internet Fair in April 2004 conducted by the ISP

Association of Bangladesh proved the interest of the common peopleAssociation of Bangladesh proved the interest of the common people

Number of internet subscribers as well as users of internet cafes are Number of internet subscribers as well as users of internet cafes are

increasing significantly during recent past.increasing significantly during recent past.

About About QuestionnaireQuestionnaire

Indicators used in the questionnaire are not fully appropriate Indicators used in the questionnaire are not fully appropriate

for a LDC like Bangladesh though the indicators are well for a LDC like Bangladesh though the indicators are well

defineddefined

Necessary/authenticated data are not available in the countryNecessary/authenticated data are not available in the country

Questions regarding number of Cyber Cafes, number of Questions regarding number of Cyber Cafes, number of

internet connections in Educational Institutions, number of internet connections in Educational Institutions, number of

Community e-Centres and number of users etc may be added Community e-Centres and number of users etc may be added

for easy understanding of the questionnaire. for easy understanding of the questionnaire.

Positive Steps towards ComputerizationPositive Steps towards Computerization

Exemption of tax on Computer items Distribution of computers to schools Computerization of government offices Launching of websites of government, (e.g.

www.bangladesh.gov.bd) Ministries/Divisions Legislature, Judiciary and Local Government institutions

Abolition of state monopoly in Telecom Use of Computers at the sub-district level

Constrains For Development Constrains For Development Of ICT Sector in Bangladesh Of ICT Sector in Bangladesh

Low compute penetration Low compute penetration Low teledensityLow teledensity Internet access show and expensiveInternet access show and expensive Bangla interface lackingBangla interface lacking Weak data communication infrastructure Weak data communication infrastructure Absence of legal infrastructureAbsence of legal infrastructure

• No law against cyber crimeNo law against cyber crime•No law of electronic authentication No law of electronic authentication •No electronic certification authorityNo electronic certification authority

Lack of public awareness about ICTsLack of public awareness about ICTs Lack of adequate human resourceLack of adequate human resource Brain DrainBrain Drain

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Welcome Welcome Comments, Comments, QuestionsQuestions . . . . . . . .