Economic Reporter :
The government has initiated a big move to expand digital connectivity through bringing 2,225 unions across the country under optical fiber link.
“The move also aims to expand the nationwide data communication backbone network up to the union level to achieve the goal of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and also enhance the access to e-services for Bangladesh’s rural communities,” an official at the ICT Division told UNB.
The Department of Information and Communication Technology under the ICT Division framed a Preliminary Development Project Proposal (PDPP) for the ambitious programme, titled ‘Establishing Digital Connectivity’, with an estimated cost of Tk 3,308 crore for the period of January 2017 to December 2020.
Of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk 500 crore while the rest of Tk 2,808 crore will come as project assistance, likely from the Chinese government.
The proposed project encompasses the goals and objectives of the 7th Five Year Plan that envisages introduction of e-governance at all executive levels of the government as well as the district ones.
The official, who wished not to be named, said the project also aims to supplement the government’s efforts for generating more employment opportunities.
As the lack of high-speed data network at the grassroots level has stood in the way of the country’s drive to become a ‘Digital Bangladesh’, he said this project is a transmission network which will help expand the high-speed internet connectivity up to the union level.
“It’ll consolidate the national IT infrastructure and facilitate the popularisation of IT services,” he said adding, “On successful completion of this project, all the unions will be connected with the nation’s backbone network. ICT facilities will be extended up to the lowest tier of local government.”
The project is also expected to make access to government services easier, eliminate information gap, improve the efficiency and communication of the public servants, increase the real-time response and process efficiency and providing better services to citizens.
Another official at the ICT Division said the project activities also include conducting surveys and design upazila-wise fiber optic layout plans for connecting the 2225 union parishads.
The government has initiated a big move to expand digital connectivity through bringing 2,225 unions across the country under optical fiber link.
“The move also aims to expand the nationwide data communication backbone network up to the union level to achieve the goal of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and also enhance the access to e-services for Bangladesh’s rural communities,” an official at the ICT Division told UNB.
The Department of Information and Communication Technology under the ICT Division framed a Preliminary Development Project Proposal (PDPP) for the ambitious programme, titled ‘Establishing Digital Connectivity’, with an estimated cost of Tk 3,308 crore for the period of January 2017 to December 2020.
Of the total project cost, the government will provide Tk 500 crore while the rest of Tk 2,808 crore will come as project assistance, likely from the Chinese government.
The proposed project encompasses the goals and objectives of the 7th Five Year Plan that envisages introduction of e-governance at all executive levels of the government as well as the district ones.
The official, who wished not to be named, said the project also aims to supplement the government’s efforts for generating more employment opportunities.
As the lack of high-speed data network at the grassroots level has stood in the way of the country’s drive to become a ‘Digital Bangladesh’, he said this project is a transmission network which will help expand the high-speed internet connectivity up to the union level.
“It’ll consolidate the national IT infrastructure and facilitate the popularisation of IT services,” he said adding, “On successful completion of this project, all the unions will be connected with the nation’s backbone network. ICT facilities will be extended up to the lowest tier of local government.”
The project is also expected to make access to government services easier, eliminate information gap, improve the efficiency and communication of the public servants, increase the real-time response and process efficiency and providing better services to citizens.
Another official at the ICT Division said the project activities also include conducting surveys and design upazila-wise fiber optic layout plans for connecting the 2225 union parishads.
