Internal bandwidth charges reduced further by 60pc
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
FE Report
The country's telecom regulatory body for the second time in a gap of less than five months has further slashed the internal bandwidth charges of submarine cable network by around 60 per cent.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BRTC) Monday said the latest reduction of the internal bandwidth charges will help to lower the cost of internet use in the country.
The commission officials said the new tariff rate that is to come into force on December 1, will power the government's efforts to increase the number of internet users' base deep into the countryside. The government has set a target to increase the internet penetration to 30 per cent by 2011 from existing around one per cent.
Under the new tariff rate, monthly line rent (E1) of internal bandwidth operators will be 200taka-250taka for 0-50 kilometer (km), 155taka -200taka for 51km-100 km, 120 taka -160 taka for 101km-200 km, 100 taka -130 taka for 201km-300km, and 75 taka -95 taka for 301km and above distance.
The regulatory body has already instructed the six cellular phone operators, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) operators, internet services providers (ISP) to reschedule their tariff rates in line with the newly announced bandwidth charges by November 13.
The chairman of the BTRC Maj Gen (retd) Manjurul Alam has called upon all stakeholders to ensure benefit of the lower rate for the mass people.
He said there is no other alternative than to make internet connection available in rural areas at cheaper rate to eradicate poverty and power economic growth of the country.
"I hope that the reduction of internal bandwidth charges will contribute significantly in increasing the number of internet users and broadband penetration," he expressed the hope.
However, the BTRC sources said the proposed national broadband policy-2008, aimed at facilitating growth of high-speed Internet services at affordable prices across the country, is at the final stage to be approved advisory council.
They said chief adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed has already reviewed the draft national broadband policy-2008, which will also contribute in expanding internet use.
The country's telecom regulatory body for the second time in a gap of less than five months has further slashed the internal bandwidth charges of submarine cable network by around 60 per cent.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BRTC) Monday said the latest reduction of the internal bandwidth charges will help to lower the cost of internet use in the country.
The commission officials said the new tariff rate that is to come into force on December 1, will power the government's efforts to increase the number of internet users' base deep into the countryside. The government has set a target to increase the internet penetration to 30 per cent by 2011 from existing around one per cent.
Under the new tariff rate, monthly line rent (E1) of internal bandwidth operators will be 200taka-250taka for 0-50 kilometer (km), 155taka -200taka for 51km-100 km, 120 taka -160 taka for 101km-200 km, 100 taka -130 taka for 201km-300km, and 75 taka -95 taka for 301km and above distance.
The regulatory body has already instructed the six cellular phone operators, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) operators, internet services providers (ISP) to reschedule their tariff rates in line with the newly announced bandwidth charges by November 13.
The chairman of the BTRC Maj Gen (retd) Manjurul Alam has called upon all stakeholders to ensure benefit of the lower rate for the mass people.
He said there is no other alternative than to make internet connection available in rural areas at cheaper rate to eradicate poverty and power economic growth of the country.
"I hope that the reduction of internal bandwidth charges will contribute significantly in increasing the number of internet users and broadband penetration," he expressed the hope.
However, the BTRC sources said the proposed national broadband policy-2008, aimed at facilitating growth of high-speed Internet services at affordable prices across the country, is at the final stage to be approved advisory council.
They said chief adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed has already reviewed the draft national broadband policy-2008, which will also contribute in expanding internet use.