Cabinet okays draft Telecom Policy
UNB
The Cabinet yesterday approved the draft of The National Telecommunications Policy, 2016 aimed at boosting teledensity, internet penetration
and expanding broadband facility, reports UNB.
The approval came from the regular weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting at the Secretariat, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the new draft policy was approved replacing the existing The National Telecommunications Policy 1998.
He said the draft policy has been formulated primarily for a 10-year period in light of the National Telecommunications Policy 1998, National Broadband Policy 2009, National ICT Policy 2015, International Long Distance Telecommunications Policy, 2010.
During the short-term plan under the policy, the government will try to achieve the target of gaining 90 per cent teledensity from the existing 80 per cent by 2018.
The cabinet secretary said there is a target to boost internet penetration from 34 per cent to 45 per cent, expansion of mobile broadband from 7 per cent to 20 per cent as well as expansion of optical fibre connection in every district and upazila headquarters and 2,000 unions of the country.
Besides, the target is to ensure the availability of high-speed wireless services in every upazila headquarters as well as introducing digital broadcasting in the country, he added.
About the mid-term target, Alam said the government wants to achieve cent per cent teledensity and raise internet penetration to 65 per cent along with reaching broadband facilities to 40 per cent people by the year 2021.
All unions of the country will come under the optical fibre network during the time connecting them with the information highway, he said.
Besides, under the long-term target by 2025, the government wants to ensure suitable environment, accessibility of optical fibre to 50 per cent residences and organisations as well as ensure internet facilities for up to 90 per cent people.
Shafiul Alam said the draft law also has recommendations for formulating a law in the light of the existing laws on telecommunications.
The laws include Telegraph Act, 1885; Radio Broadcast Act, 1975 and 1992; Pornography Act, 2012; Bangladesh Television Broadcasting Act, 1965. Wireless Broadcast Act, 1933 and Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulation Act 2001, ICT Act 2006.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to withdraw cabinets decision taken on 29th October, 1989 on introducing open registry system for the foreigners owned Ocean Going Ships in Bangladesh.
