The dream of digital Bangladesh
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Nowazesh Ali Khan
For a country which has the eighth biggest population in the world, Bangladesh would seem to be ideal for rapid growth of the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) specially the Internet. Even Bill Clinton, the distinguished former US President, pointed out on occasions how the Internet could play a valuable role in the days ahead to transform conditions for the better in Bangladesh or its people. The present government is also committed to digital Bangladesh with particular stress given on ICTs. But the realities as these stand now, are rather unimpressive in this field.
The Internet came late to Bangladesh with somewhat proper connectivity in 1996. In the last few years it has grown , although obviously from a very low base. With an estimated user base of around 500,000 in early 2006, representing only a 0.35% penetration in the population, the local Internet industry is preparing to move into the next stage of its development. The user base may have substantially improved in the last couple of years but it is still to reach even 1 per cent of the population or it could be a little higher suggesting the immense potential of further increase in the use of the Internet.
For Bangladesh, the priority should be to facilitate Internet access to academic institutions and to the intellectual communities. Also, private users should be more encouraged to create their own access to online Internet. Having an Internet account is the primary thing, but not all: using the Internet for productive purposes and for real benefits is the main issue. It should be realized that service charges by the providers which are still not low enough to create greater incentives for users, a telecommunication system with supporting infrastructures remaining undeveloped, government policies not yet fully conducive to rapid increase in Internet use, and low buying power of potential clients are major barriers to the increase in the use of the computer and the Internet. All of these barriers will have to be addressed well in the near future to make possible a pushup in Internet use .
Rapid privatization of the telecommunication sector may remarkably enhance the speed of renovations through open-market competition. A national unity between the ruling party and the opposition is essential on this vital issue . Unless more competitors, more investments, and more innovations are encouraged in the field, only government effort will not bring proportionate value for money in this sector. Buying power of potential clients will not immediately increase, but government may introduce lucrative consumer loan policies and may further reduce sufficiently taxes on computers and accessories to enable people to have their own computers to attain the dream of a digital Bangladesh.
For a country which has the eighth biggest population in the world, Bangladesh would seem to be ideal for rapid growth of the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) specially the Internet. Even Bill Clinton, the distinguished former US President, pointed out on occasions how the Internet could play a valuable role in the days ahead to transform conditions for the better in Bangladesh or its people. The present government is also committed to digital Bangladesh with particular stress given on ICTs. But the realities as these stand now, are rather unimpressive in this field.
The Internet came late to Bangladesh with somewhat proper connectivity in 1996. In the last few years it has grown , although obviously from a very low base. With an estimated user base of around 500,000 in early 2006, representing only a 0.35% penetration in the population, the local Internet industry is preparing to move into the next stage of its development. The user base may have substantially improved in the last couple of years but it is still to reach even 1 per cent of the population or it could be a little higher suggesting the immense potential of further increase in the use of the Internet.
For Bangladesh, the priority should be to facilitate Internet access to academic institutions and to the intellectual communities. Also, private users should be more encouraged to create their own access to online Internet. Having an Internet account is the primary thing, but not all: using the Internet for productive purposes and for real benefits is the main issue. It should be realized that service charges by the providers which are still not low enough to create greater incentives for users, a telecommunication system with supporting infrastructures remaining undeveloped, government policies not yet fully conducive to rapid increase in Internet use, and low buying power of potential clients are major barriers to the increase in the use of the computer and the Internet. All of these barriers will have to be addressed well in the near future to make possible a pushup in Internet use .
Rapid privatization of the telecommunication sector may remarkably enhance the speed of renovations through open-market competition. A national unity between the ruling party and the opposition is essential on this vital issue . Unless more competitors, more investments, and more innovations are encouraged in the field, only government effort will not bring proportionate value for money in this sector. Buying power of potential clients will not immediately increase, but government may introduce lucrative consumer loan policies and may further reduce sufficiently taxes on computers and accessories to enable people to have their own computers to attain the dream of a digital Bangladesh.