Digital Bangladesh: Future plans for

broadband roll-out in Bangladesh

Honourable Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP,

State Minister, Ministry of Posts and

Telecommunications, Bangladesh

Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP State Minister for ICT

Government of the People’s Republic Bangladesh

Changing Lives

Digital Bangladesh: Future Plans for Broadband Rollout

About Bangladesh

Cox’s Bazar

•World’s longest unbroken sea beach

Sundarban

•World’s largest mangrove forest

Land of Rivers

•Over 405 rivers across the country

• Cox’s Bazar and Sundarban are among Asia’s Seven Natural Wonders

• Sundarban recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Beautiful Bangladesh

125 km 6,000 skm

in BD

405+ rivers

Liberation War, 1971

National Language Movement, 1952

Fight for Freedom

Fight for the Bengali Language

A Nation of Patriots

Bangladesh among Goldman Sachs

“Next 11” Emerging Economies

Bangladesh among Citigroup ‘3G’

(Global Growth Generators)

countries

6%+ GDP growth

annually since 2010

#2 Garments

Exporter in the world

2.63% Contribution of telecom sector

to GDP

The Emerging Economy

Stable GDP growth

Steady rise in GDP per capita

Record high foreign reserves

Robust growth raises investment

6.1% GDP growth

USD1190 GDP Per Capita

USD21.3Bn Forex reserve

(as of 24th June)

USD1.3Bn FDI

(in 2013)

Source: Bangladesh Bank and S&P Sovereign Key Indicators Dec 2013

Peers include – Bolivia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Georgia and Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan

Macro–economic Environment Resilient Economic Growth Despite Difficult Political Backdrop

About Telecom & ICT Sector

79% Voice

Penetration

50% of

Total FDI

3% Contribution

to GDP

Source: AMTOB, BTRC

1.5m+

Employment

Telecom & ICT Sector Key Telecom Index

25% Internet

Penetration

Laws Policies

National Telecom Policy’98

(Under revision)

National ICT Policy

Telegraph Act’1885

Wireless Telegraphy Act’1933

BTRA 2001 (as amended 2010)

ICT Act

MoPT&IT

National Broadband Policy-2009

ILDTS Policy

BTRC MoF

Planning Commission

Bangladesh Bank

Competition Commission (Proposed)

MoPT

Regulator(s) Policy Maker (s)

NBR

Telecom & ICT Sector Governing Framework

National Broadband Policy-2009 Key Highlights

Broadband Redefined : 1 Mbps

+

Broadband is defined as an experience where the user can access the internet at a minimum

speed of 1 Mbps.

National Broadband Policy-2009 Key Highlights

Fundamental Policy Objectives

Reliable & affordable

broadband service

Improvement of access network &

facilitate interconnection

Encourage PPP in Broadband service

Promote local/Bangla contents & encourage

investment in VAS & Broadband

3G license BWA license Nationwide WiFi

ISPs

42 million+ internet subscribers (2m BB

subscribers)

96% of the internet subscribers are

accessing internet using mobile

3G license issued in 2013 & already

deployed in all the district

Issued 3 WiMAX licenses with a very nominal spectrum

price

Published WiFi guidelines to deploy

WiFi network throughout the

country

400+ Internet Service Provider (ISP)

licenses have been issued

37 Internet Gateway licenses have been

issued, 27 are already operational

Journey Towards Broadband Continued effort to increase access to broadband & to make it affordable

National Broadband Policy-2009 Key Challenges in Policy Implementation

Attracting investment in broadband – lack of motivation amongst the market players

More PPP initiatives – understanding gap, lack of collaboration

Development of local contents or contents in local language

Increasing awareness – General & ICT literacy

Way Forward?

We are considering adoption of a Broadband Master Plan

40%

Internet penetration

70%

Internet Penetration

100%

Internet Penetration

Broadband Master Plan Key aspirations in terms of Internet & Broadband penetration

2015 2018 2021

10%

BB penetration

35%

BB penetration

50%

BB penetration

Streamline Licensing Regime

Embrace Technology neutrally - existing

allocated band to offer 3G/4G/LTE

Allocate 700 MHz band Spectrum for 4G/LTE

Nationwide Fiber connectivity & Fiber to

Home through PPP model

Deploy Mobile BB in deprived areas using

SOF – address availability & affordability issues

Provide Tax incentives to encourage faster rollout

of Broadband Service

Encourage Active Infrastructure sharing

Policy Harmonization – BB , Telco, ICT, Health,

Education, Taxation

Broadband Master Plan Strategic Action Items

Thank You