Staff Correspondent
In a bid to permit the private sector to develop, build, operate and maintain nationwide optical fiber telecommunication transmission network, Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) handed over the first Nationwide Tele-communication Transmi-ssion Network (NTTN) license to Fiber @ Home Limited.
The BTRC chairman Maj Gen Manzurul Alam (retd) handed over the license to Managing Director of Fiber @ Home Limi-ted Moynul Haque Siddiqi at a simple function at BTRC office on Wednesday.
The BTRC chairman said providing NTTN license is the first step to build “Digital Bangladesh” by 2021, which was one of the electoral promises by the newly formed government led by Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.
“Once the NTTN is completely set up in the country, it will be providing a very high-speed broadband internet service to the people and is likely to open up many possibilities and services like Telecommunication operators, ISPs, cable TV operators,” BTRC chairman said adding that “The NTTN is expected to improve and enhance the current internet infrastructure in Bangladesh.”
“Presently Bangladesh lacks a nationwide network infrastructure for common use by operators. Without infrastructure development, it is very difficult to make information technology available to the doorsteps of the rural people. If we can spread infrastructure facilities across the country implementation of e-governance will be easier,” the BTRC chairman added.
He said with the completion of NTTN, rural people will get the telecommunication and internet network facilities to a greater extent.
The BTRC chairman said it will stretch optical fiber network across the country through NTTN and gradually help remove the use of overhead cables in the cities and towns. As a result, separates network for each service provider will not be required. For this, operation and maintenance cost will come down significantly, which ultimately benefits the customers.
Terming NTTN license as a milestone for the development of information technology in the country, Managing Director of Fiber @ Home Limited Moynul Haque Siddiqi said, it will take the nation towards prosperity.
Siddiqi said that densely populated cities of the country will be brought under the network within six months and the facilities would reach at least 20 upazilas by next one year.
BTRC officials said the NTTN license is an open license. The duration of the license will be initially for a term of 15 years. The licensee will need to submit a bank guarantee as security deposit worth Tk. 100 million in favour of BTRC within 15 days of issuance of license with minimum validity of five years.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
