taking mobile services to the much needed rural communities of bhutan
DESCRIPTION
Taking mobile services to the much needed rural communities of Bhutan. Outline:. Background Bhutan Telecom…Current State Extending mobile service to rural Bhutan. 1. Background. Bhutan Telecom is the incumbent telecom operator in Bhutan (100% government owned) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Taking mobile services to the much needed rural communities
of Bhutan
1. Background2. Bhutan Telecom…Current State3. Extending mobile service to rural
Bhutan
Outline:
1. Background Bhutan Telecom is the incumbent telecom operator in Bhutan (100% government owned)
Provides 3 line of services: fixed, mobile and Internet
Fixed line subscribers: 25,000 plus
Mobile subscribers: 250,000 plus
Data subscribers:
Mobile Data users: 3G - 2,000, GPRS/EDGE- 48,000
DSL Broadband users – 8,000, leased line – 160
Potential customer base: 650,000
Current State…Network Infrastructure
2. Transmission Network (Domestic) Fiber Optic Network
Very limited in place currently
Existing network is 100% on OPGW except for the last mile/approach to terminating stations
Installed capacity: STM1 – STM4
Microwave Radio Network Microwave SDH Radio on the East-West backbone
Microwave PDH Radio mostly on the access/spur routes
Installed capacity: 2E1 to (2+1) STM1
Current State…Network Infrastructure
2. International connectivity
Fiber Optic – STM1 to LINX, London - STM1to HKIX, Hongkong
Satellite - 10 Mbps with British Telecom, UK
Current State…Fiber Network
Tingtibi
Yurmu
TrongsaWangdue
Punakha
PhuentsholingPasakha
PugliGedu
Tshimasham
Chumdo
Khasa
Simtokha
Thimphu
Khangkhu
Paro
Satsham
Damphu
Fiber with traffic
Fiber not lit
To/from India
Future Plans…National/International Fiber Connectivity
Tingtibi
Yurmu
TrongsaWangdue
Punakha
PhuentsholingPasakha
PugliGedu
Tshimasham
Chumdo
Khasa
Simtokha
Thimphu
K/khu
Paro
Satsham
Damphu
Fiber with trafficFiber not lit
Panbang
Nanglam
Nangkhor
Kanglung
Gelephu
To/from IndiaTo/from India
Future Plans
Dagapela
Haa
Tangmachu
Mobile Service to rural Bhutan
3. GSM mobile service to rural communities
Funding scheme : 50% Universal Service Fund (USF) and 50% Bhutan Telecom fund (USD 6 million)
Total GSM BTS deployed as part of this USF project : 23
Total PDH microwave hops deployed as backhaul for BTS: 25+
Innovating to suit rural conditions
Transportation of materials to rural sites
Innovating to suit rural conditions
Locally designed and fabricated BTS shelters
Innovating to suit rural conditions
Installation of Tower & Solar power
Innovating to suit rural conditions
Installation of outdoor GSM BTS
Innovating to suit rural conditions
Completed BTS site
Rural Customer Base
Typical Rural Community required to be provided mobile service
Challenges
Difficulties faced:
Bhutan has mountainous terrain…very difficult to build backhaul radio links
Rural communities do not have electricity supply…therefore BTS stations and PDH microwave backhaul stations need to be solar powered (Capital intensive)
Rural communities do not have access motor roads… transportation of materials become very difficult. Subsequent maintenance of the network also becomes difficult
Return on capital deployed is minimal
Tashi Delek,
Thank You.