INTERNET AND DATA COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN BANGLADESH

- Special Emphasis for Education and Research

S. M. Lutful KabirProfessor and Director

Institute of Information and Communication TechnologyBangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

History of Internet in Bangladesh

First, UUCP email in 1993IP Connectivity in 1996Present user 3,00,000 representing 0.24% penetration

Research and Education

Education in Computer first started at BUET in 198483,796 primary level institutions5694 Junior institutions15748 secondary institutions2339 higher secondary and degree colleges30 numbers of Universities

IT DevelopmentGovernment’s Emphasis to establish

high capacity fiber optic telecommunication backboneLocal Information and Infrastructure (LII)National Information and Infrastructure (NII)Global Information and Infrastructure (GII)

Exemption tax from Computer itemsDistribution of computers to schoolsComputerization of government offices

Village Computer and Internet Familiarizing village peopleProviding computer training at a minimul priceProviding email facilityEasier access to relevant market informationEnabling student contact for higher educationCreating IT related Job opportunity

IP Telephony

Much cheaper than conventional telephone systemAt present, illegalGovernment considering the formal permission for IP telephone

e-Commerce

is not progressing becausepoor network infrastructurelack of human resourcesabsence of related rules

Government has formed a committee toStandardizationInteroperability

e-Banking

Most of the bank use the computerized systemBut they do not yet offer online or e-serviceStandard Chartered Bank first launched Internet bankingA seven bank consortium offers now e-banking

IT Policy

A national IT policy has been drafted and under consideration in the parliamentIn the draft, the computer education has been given top priority

IT (Electronic Transaction) Acts

In May 2002, Government announced plan to legislate e-commerceLegislation of digital signature and electronic document is underwayThe Bangladesh Law commission has drafted IT actcirculated among stakeholdersdesigned to cover cyber crimes

Nationwide Internet and Data Network

A variety of data network are slowly emergingDigital Switches capable of services such as ISDN have been installed nationwideVarious organizations have, or are in the process of installing LANInternet backbone required for data communication, software development, data entry require to be upgraded

Transmission System

mainly composed of microwave, UHF and VHF radio linksmajor links are star formation network structureuse of optical fiber is presently limited within some city areas connecting local exchange and remote RSUall thana headquarters (smallest administrative units) are connected with their respective districts through radio links

Transmission System (continued)

majority of the network is operated by Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB)amongst the private operators, BRTA have established a microwave link between Dhaka and SylhetGrameen are upgrading fiber optic cable network of bangladesh railwayestablished a 140 Mbit/s microwave link between Khulna and Chittagong via Barisal

International Communication Facility

Standard A Satellite Earth Station in 1975 at Betbunia to work with INTELSAT systemSecond Satellite Earth Station at TalibabadInternational Subscriber Dialling (ISD) facility in December 1983Satellite earth station along with an International Trunk Exchange (ITX) was commissioned in Mohakhali, Dhaka in 1994.Direct Satellite Link between Sylhet and London in June, 1995

International Switching Center

Three International Switching Center (ISC)

One at MohakhaliTwo at Mogbazar

International Maritime Satellite

INMARSAT provides mobile communication services for ships and aircrafts.BTTB has five INMARSAT – A terminals operating through (land Earth Station) LES located at Jeddah

International VSAT Services

Communication established through geostationary satellite (in this region ASIASAT).Five-year BOT agreement with Pak DataComAllowed for corporate data communication and cannnot be terminated to any public switched telephone network (PSTN)

Digital Data Network (DDN)

In Dhaka and three other major citiesPlans to extend for all of the 64 districtsAn X.25 Packet Switched Data Network (PSDN) in Dhaka and five other cities in 1994Inter-city connectivity through microwave linkThe cable TV network is being considered as a future option of data transfer

establish a national IP gateway

interconnect the local Internet Service Providers (ISPs)connect ISPs to the PSTN through E1 trunksintroduce packet switch along with the existing circuit switched PSTNoffer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

InfoBahn Project

In 1996, first provider is ISNConnection charge is as low as 50 paisa (1.2 JPY) per minuteAbout 80% is email serviceRegistered with ISP 1,00,000 usersTotal Internet users is 3,20,000Mainly Dhaka BasedFew ISPs are at Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Khulna

Internet Service Providers

Underdeveloped IT industryLimited trained human resourcesPoor telecommunication infrastructureLow level of computer literacyWidespread povertyLimited point of presence of ISPsLack of software and content in Bangla

Constraints on Internet Growth

Human Resources

Government fixes top priority in developing human resourcesAt present country produces around 2000 graduates in IT related field ｓRenowned public Institutes are BUET, DU, JU, SUST, RU etcPrivate University – NSU, AUST, EWU, AMA, UAP, etc

Measures for HRD

• Adequate Internet facility• High Speed campus backbone• Qualified faculty appointment • Strengthen PG programme• Enhance laboratory facilities• On line books/Journal facility• Internship in industry• More funds for good institutes

Connectivity in Educational Institutes

Use of computers is not encouragingMost of the universities do not have their own VSATBUET has its own, speed 512 kbps/128 kbpsMost of the institutions are not networked internally Bangladesh Education and Research Network (BERNET) provides connectivity for nine universities

BERNETThe central node of BUGC is connected to a local ISP Two universities are connected to BUGC through radio modemNine other universities are connected through dial-up telephone linke-mail, www, ftp, remote log-in, database services are providedThe maintenance is poor

Recommendation

IT training should substantially be encouraged through formal and non-formal means.VoIP and private international gateway for data and voice should allowedThe fiber optic cable laid along railway tract should be further utilizedThe internet connectivity should be increased

Conclusion

The present government has recognized IT as thrust sectorA large number of bright students and entrepreneurs have shown interest in ITStrong data network within the country and between the country and outside world are necessaryNot only equipment but also training is necessary for maintaining the system

Thank You