BTRC satellite launching process begins
BTRC has already embarked on the process of launching its own satellite in five years to help further develop the telecom and ICT industry in the country, said BTRC chairman yesterday.
“We have already started the related tasks, such as analyzing the orbit situation to install a satellite, it will take five years to complete the process,” said Major Gen (retd) Manzurul Alam, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
“We already have one orbit available for our satellite, and are trying to manage another one,” said BTRC chairman, adding that the satellite will ease the access to GSM frequency.
He said this at a seminar on 'Telecom and ICT Industry in Bangladesh: The Past, Present and The Future', organised by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) in Dhaka.
Manzurul Alam also said the satellite will be launched by a joint venture or the government will launch it independently, adding that the cost of the satellite launching is yet to be assessed as the project is still in its primary stage.
Satellite communications have distinct benefits over terrestrial alternatives. It can support all types of communication need, such as cellular networks, multimedia applications and broadband Internet network.
In his keynote paper, Anders Jensen, CEO of Grameenphone, said to keep the growth of telecom sector stable government needs to ensure transparency and a better coordination between several ministries related to the sectors.
Jensen also emphasised liberalisation of the telecom sector through issuance of new license for the upcoming operators and development of international Internet gateway.
Tenzin Dolma Norbhu, senior ICT policy specialist of World Bank, in her paper shows that development of telecom and ICT sector could influence economic growth in the country.
Tenzin said the government should reduce the high tax, imposed on the mobile operators, and make the government institutions more efficient for a sustainable development of the sector.
Mamun Rashid, Citigroup country officer, said as mobile phones stimulates trade and create job in the country government should liberalise the telecom market and reduce cost for establishing base station tower.
Farooq Sobhan, BEI president, presided over the seminar, while CEOs of all mobile phone operators of the country were present.
Kamal Uddin Ahmed, executive chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI) and SM Wahiduzzaman, secretary of ministry for science, information and communication technology attended the seminar, as well.
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