Experts for alternative connection during the interim period
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Md Jamal Uddin
Country`s ICT sector will get strong force after connectivity with the second submarine cable. It will also increase flow of foreign currency earning, said the experts of information and communication technology (ICT).
But they suggested the government to ensure alternative connection during the interim period for uninterrupted service as it would take almost three more years for installation of the second submarine cable.
Recently, the government gave approval for building second submarine cable to Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).
Besides, five companies received 'international terrestrial cable' (ITC) licence on January 05 to connect cable with the neighbouring country India which will work as back up connection to maintain uninterrupted tele-connectivity with the rest of the world.
The companies which got licences are: Asia-AHLJV, BD Link Communication Ltd, Mango Teleservices Ltd, Summit Communications Ltd and Fiber@Home Ltd.
Mahboob Zaman, president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) said the country`s image will be brighten in international arena for taking the initiative. Total outsourcing activities depend on uninterrupted connectivity, he observed.
Mr Zaman pointed out that two problems are still remaining beyond infrastructure development, which are language barrier and implementation of intellectual property right.
He said the government should now take initiative for overcome these barriers.
Munir Hasan, general secretary of Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN), said foreign companies would not give their big work orders to Bangladesh for not having proper ICT infrastructure, but he hopes the companies will consider the country from now on.
Business volume of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and call centres will scale up due to ICT infrastructure development, he added.
He, however, mentioned that terrestrial connectivity is comparatively costlier, so government should emphasis on submarine cable.
Mr Munir who is involved with country`s popular event 'Math Olympiad' said ICT firms have to buy bandwidth from Dhaka instead of Cox`s Bazar, landing station of submarine cable SEA-ME-WE 4, which increases the costing of the firms.
On the other hand, another ICT expert said, seeking anonymity, Bangladesh has sufficient backbone and ITC will be enough for back up when submarine cable will face problem.
He observed the view that second submarine cable 'SEA-ME-WE 5' was not so necessary.
According to BSCCL, installation of SEA-ME-WE 5 will be completed by 2014 at a cost of Tk 4.5 billion. The company has already signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore-based company SingTel to join the consortium that would be connected with 16 countries.
Bangladesh connected itself to the International Information Super Highway last year by joining an international consortium of 16 telecom operators, which installed the undersea cable at a cost of $35.1 million.
Country`s ICT sector will get strong force after connectivity with the second submarine cable. It will also increase flow of foreign currency earning, said the experts of information and communication technology (ICT).
But they suggested the government to ensure alternative connection during the interim period for uninterrupted service as it would take almost three more years for installation of the second submarine cable.
Recently, the government gave approval for building second submarine cable to Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).
Besides, five companies received 'international terrestrial cable' (ITC) licence on January 05 to connect cable with the neighbouring country India which will work as back up connection to maintain uninterrupted tele-connectivity with the rest of the world.
The companies which got licences are: Asia-AHLJV, BD Link Communication Ltd, Mango Teleservices Ltd, Summit Communications Ltd and Fiber@Home Ltd.
Mahboob Zaman, president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) said the country`s image will be brighten in international arena for taking the initiative. Total outsourcing activities depend on uninterrupted connectivity, he observed.
Mr Zaman pointed out that two problems are still remaining beyond infrastructure development, which are language barrier and implementation of intellectual property right.
He said the government should now take initiative for overcome these barriers.
Munir Hasan, general secretary of Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN), said foreign companies would not give their big work orders to Bangladesh for not having proper ICT infrastructure, but he hopes the companies will consider the country from now on.
Business volume of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and call centres will scale up due to ICT infrastructure development, he added.
He, however, mentioned that terrestrial connectivity is comparatively costlier, so government should emphasis on submarine cable.
Mr Munir who is involved with country`s popular event 'Math Olympiad' said ICT firms have to buy bandwidth from Dhaka instead of Cox`s Bazar, landing station of submarine cable SEA-ME-WE 4, which increases the costing of the firms.
On the other hand, another ICT expert said, seeking anonymity, Bangladesh has sufficient backbone and ITC will be enough for back up when submarine cable will face problem.
He observed the view that second submarine cable 'SEA-ME-WE 5' was not so necessary.
According to BSCCL, installation of SEA-ME-WE 5 will be completed by 2014 at a cost of Tk 4.5 billion. The company has already signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore-based company SingTel to join the consortium that would be connected with 16 countries.
Bangladesh connected itself to the International Information Super Highway last year by joining an international consortium of 16 telecom operators, which installed the undersea cable at a cost of $35.1 million.