Govt plans internet for isolated areas

The government is aiming at using satellite technology to ensure high-speed internet at isolated islands in the Bay of Bengal and remotest parts of the country such as haor areas.

Right now there are about 772 unions that have no internet connectivity, said Mustafa Jabbar, telecom minister, during a discussion with a group of journalists at his office yesterday.

The telecom ministry is trying to establish connectivity in some of those using fiber-optic cables while in the rest through satellite, he said, adding that the ministry's next agenda was to connect those localities.

Jabbar and Shahjahan Mahmood, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, will visit Sandwip, an isolated part under Chittagong district, today to finalise their plans.

Right now the country has connectivity with South Asia Satellite, which was established a couple of months ago. It was launched by India to provide a variety of communication services to neighbouring countries for free.

Both Jabbar and Mahmood said Bangladesh was also scheduled to avail commercial use of its first satellite, Bangabandhu-1, by August.

“We can use South Asia Satellite's capacity from next month and Bangabandhu-1 could be used after its launch,” said the BTRC chairman.

The telecom ministry also has a plan to spend some of the social obligation fund on network expansion.

The BTRC chairman said they wanted to ensure coverage in some of the other remotest parts such as hilly areas as well.

“Definitely this will ensure round-the-clock telecom services though it will be costlier to ensure connectivity through satellite,” said Mahmood.

“We want to use this (South Asia Satellite's) capacity for ensuring connectivity at rural levels and that will reduce the digital divide as well,” Mahmood.