Telecommunication in

Bhutan

Overview

Bhutan

Telecom sector in Bhutan

Tashi InfoComm Limited

Bhutan Telecom Limited

ISPs

Universal service fund

References

Bhutan

Is a small country with around 750,000

population

With area 38,364 km²

Economy is mainly based on

agriculture

Works for building Telecommunication

network began in late 90s

Telecom Sector in Bhutan

In 2003, Bhutan Telecom launched the first mobile communication service in the

country

In 2008, Tashi InfoComm Limited entered the market as a second telecom

operator

There are few licensed ISPs serving internet and hosting facilities

Bhutan Telecom

….continued

It is a state owned company which came into existence since 2000

It owns 70% market share

It provides fixed line telephony service, mobile services and internet

services

It provides various services like prepaid, postpaid, B-wallet, Roaming

etc

In addition they also provide various value added services like CRBT,

Missed call alert etc

...contd..

Tashi InfoComm Limited- TICL

..continued...

First established in year 2008 as a first private telecommunication company

It owns 30% market share

TICL provides mobile services (both telephony and internet) and internet

services

Similarly they provide prepaid, postpaid, B-wallet, Roaming etc in mobile service

They also provide value added services to customers

…continued...

Once TICL came into market,

there was drastic reduction in call cost

Various services like were introduced to attract customers hereby benefitting

mobile users

Other ISPs

Besides the two giant Telecom operators, there are few ISPs providing internet

services in the country.

They are Samden Tech, Nano, DrukComm and ABCO

They are leasing bandwidth from giant operators

These ISPs are catering to few customers mostly in urban areas

Universal Service Fund

USF is established as per the BICM act of bhutan

The sole purpose of established USF is to compensate any ICT facility or

service provider .

USF is contributed by the licensees who provides ICT service or facility in the

country.

It comprises of license fees and a percent of annual gross revenue from the

operators

Thank you

References

Bhutan Information,Communications and Media Act, 2006

Bhutan Telecommunications and broadband policy, 2014

http://www.telecom.net.bt/

http://www.tashicell.com/

https://www.google.bt/search?q=tasi+cell&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=ln

ms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDzaCk04POAhULP48KHclUCT8Q_AUIBigB

&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=TICL+BHUTAN&imgrc=YtN-otVHISfpEM%3A