INTERNET AND DATA COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN BANGLADESH
- Special Emphasis for Education and Research
S. M. Lutful Kabir, PhDProfessor 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 secondary 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
MEDINET
Range of information resources related to healthDoctors get help from the resourcesConnects to the Internet every hour through a commercial ISPHelps user to acquire articles from reputed journal
IP Telephony
Much cheaper than conventional telephone systemAt present, illegalIndividuals and commercial user still uses IP telephoneGovernment considering the formal permission system for IP telephone
e-Governance
Make significant contribution in establishing good governance in the countryTo stop the corruption by introducing transparency Government has given serious consideration for its introduction
e-Commerce
is not progressing becausepoor network infrastructurelack of human resourcesabsence of related rules
Government has formed a committee toStandardizationInteroperability
e-Commerce facilitates business community
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
Intellectual Proprietary Rights (IPR) Laws
In 2000, Government approved IPR LawThe law enforcing agency being unfamiliar with the application So, still wide spread pirated software is usedData security and interoperability will be promoted through setting up encryption standard and international agreements on interoperability
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 have 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 fieldTarget was to produce 10,000 programmer by 2001, but it did not achievedRenowned public Institutes are BUET, DU, JU, SUST, RU etcPrivate University – NSU, AUST, EWU, AMA, UAP, etc
IT Training Institutes
Short training – specially vendor specificThese training get obsolete as the product changesA strong background in IT is necessaryMost of the institutes are just commercialNo standard is maintainedLack of good trainerLack of up-to-date Syllabus
Measures for HRD
Uniform course curriculaAdequate Internet facilityHigh Speed campus backboneQualified faculty appointment Strengthen PG programmeEnhance laboratory facilitiesOn line books/Journal facilityInternship in industryMore funds for good institutes
Connectivity in Educational Institutes
Use of computers is not encouragingMost of the universities have their own VSATBUET has its own, speed 512 kbps/128 kbpsInternally most of the institutions are not networkedBangladesh 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
The connectivity through submarine cable should immediately be establishedIT training should be substantially encouraged in nation through formal and non-formal means.Government and private initiative should be realized and encouraged to establish cyber cafes to allow wide access to InternetVoIP and private international gateway for data and voice should allowed
Recommendation (continued)
The fiber optic cable laid along railway tract should be further utilizedBTRC should be allowed to work without government influence and controlBTTB should be privatizeProper cabling should be done to avoid bandwidth limitationIT (Electronic Signature) Acts should immediately be implemented
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
