DataSoft opens first IoT lab

DataSoft Systems Bangladesh yesterday opened a state-of-the-art IoT lab at its new office in Shyamoli in Dhaka.

ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak inaugurated the country's first internet of things or IoT lab, where about 300 engineers will sign up for a four-month course on IoT systems.

At the event, the state minister declared DataSoft as the country's new private hi-tech park that will give the company a push to go into further innovations.

“In principle, I accept DataSoft's request to allow it to run as a private hi-tech. But they have to apply officially to complete the formalities,” said Palak.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat and industry experts were also present at the event.

Palak also accepted DataSoft's request to allocate it a space of 20,000 square feet at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City.

As a private hi-tech park, the DataSoft office will get special tax benefits with uninterrupted power supply.

At the same time, it gives the company huge scope for branding in international business. DataSoft, a renowned software company, began its first course on IoT on November 1 and 30 students from public and private universities are already enrolled. They are finding solutions to the different problems, such as traffic congestion and garbage collection in Dhaka.

Michael Wang, a Columbia University professor, is coordinating the course. He also formulated the course curriculum in IoT at Columbia University in the US.

The lab is a result of collaboration between the US, Japan and Bangladesh. Under a project of leveraging ICT of the ICT Division, DataSoft is running the 16-month project. The Hi-Tech Park Authority and ICT Division are co-sponsoring the programme.

After completing the course, most participants will be absorbed by DataSoft, said a senior official of the company. Some may opt to become start-up entrepreneurs or join other companies, he added.

Palak said through this initiative, Bangladesh can now brand itself as the IoT hub. “I am requesting non-residential Bangladeshis with high-tech jobs abroad to come back and join a company like DataSoft,” Palak said.

Bernicat said the internet economy is growing by the day and IoT can boost it.

Managing Director of DataSoft Mahboob Zaman said they can contribute to digitising the country, and for that, they are asking for policy support from the government.

“We want to change the ICT sector of Bangladesh, and for doing that, the government can prefer public private partnership models,” said Zaman, also a former president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services.

At the ceremony, Vice Chancellor of University of Asia Pacific Jamilur Reza Choudhury, BASIS President Mustafa Jabbar, Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council SM Ashraful Islam, President of American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh Aftab-ul-Islam also spoke.