To get feedback on draft Telecommunication Policy from public, the Post and Telecommunications Division has decided to post the preliminary version to its website.
The draft will be available on the web from today and remain open for next seven days for public opinion. Anyone can send feedback via email to [email protected].
Husnul Mahmud Khan, joint secretary, Post and Telecommunications Division, under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, yesterday said: “We want to formulate a pro-people telecommunications policy and post the draft for the betterment of masses.”
Husnul was speaking at a consultation meeting with a group of journalists at the ministry.
The National Telecommunications Policy was formulated in 1998 and had never been updated since then.
“Our mission is to ensure an integrated telecommunications network and services for all individuals, households and businesses in Bangladesh,” he said.
For the first time, the government included short-term, mid-term and long-term policy targets in the telecommunications policy.
A total of 1,2,00 union parishads will be connected through optical fibre cable in 2018 under the short-term target while 100% telecom density will be achieved by 2021 under the mid-term target.
Around 60% population of the country will come under broadband services by 2025 under the long-term vision.
According to the draft policy, to protect customer rights, mobile number portability will be introduced in the shortest possible time.
The service providers shall comply with performance standards and quality of service parameters.
The draft policy stresses that Teletalk and BTCL increase their capacities to compete with business entities in the market.
Sources said there is a huge demand for various smartphones and different latest devices.
“Considering this, we can develop institutional framework to support the research and development and manufacturing industry,” said Husnul.
Welcoming the policy, Ekram Kabir, vice-president of Robi Axiata Limited, said to update the national telecommunications policy is the order of the day.
“We hope it will be finalised within a very short time and our goal is to connect all people of the country so that they can improve their livelihood,” said Ekram.
