Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DHAKA709
2009-07-20 07:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
CREATING A DIGITAL BANGLADESH: POSTS AND
how-toVZCZCXRO1328 PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHKA #0709/01 2010752 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 200752Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9179 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000709
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ENRG PREL TINT BG
SUBJECT: CREATING A DIGITAL BANGLADESH: POSTS AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MINISTER DESCRIBES GRAND AMBITIONS
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000709
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ENRG PREL TINT BG
SUBJECT: CREATING A DIGITAL BANGLADESH: POSTS AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MINISTER DESCRIBES GRAND AMBITIONS
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Bangladesh,s Posts and Telecommunications
Minister, Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, described at length his
ambitious plans for expanding the country,s
telecommunications infrastructure ) towards the goal of
creating a &digital Bangladesh8 by the year 2021. In a
meeting with the Ambassador on July 15, Raju spoke of the
need to increase foreign investment and promote
public-private partnerships in the telecommunications sector.
He also declared that the government was committed to
extending internet connectivity to the rural areas. The
Ambassador noted that a number of American firms were
interested in the participating in this endeavor.
A computer in every school
--------------
2. (SBU) The Minister pointed out that the Government of
Bangladesh (GOB) would start deploying fiber optic cable in
the headquarters of the districts and sub-districts
throughout the country. However, because a majority of the
population resided in remote rural areas, the GOB planned to
make internet available in the villages nationwide by using
wireless broadband. Raju added that one of his chief
priorities was to put a computer in every school house,
noting that unlike children in the capital, most children in
the villages did not have access to the benefits of
technology. The Ambassador replied that a number of American
companies were watching developments closely. He pointed out
that the prospects for new initiatives like telemedicine,
following the expansion of internet connectivity, were
exciting.
And a phone in every pocket(
--------------
3. (SBU) The Ministry,s Secretary mentioned that the
present government,s strategy also was to increase levels of
cell phone penetration ) raising it from slightly under 40
percent of the population owning cell phones to 95 percent in
the next 10 years. He added that rising levels of cell phone
usage had revolutionized life in the villages, pointing out
that the cost of phone calls had also dropped significantly
in the last several years. As a result of cell phone
technology people living in villages were now able to
communicate more easily and conduct business with one
another. The Ambassador agreed that Bangladesh had been
successful in leapfrogging an entire phase of technology in
its telecommunications development.
Public private partnerships
--------------
4. (SBU) The Ambassador inquired whether the private sector
would be involved in the government,s initiatives. The
Minister noted that private sector involvement was critical
and that Grameenphone, the country,s leading phone and
internet provider, was already working with the GOB in the
rural areas. (Note: another leading NGO, Bangladesh Rural
Advanced Committee (BRAC),is also involved in technology
related initiatives in the villages. End note.) He also
added that wireless broadband and other technologies, like
voice over internet protocol, would be open to foreign
investment. According to the Minister, the Chinese and the
Japanese governments were planning to offer nearly $1 billion
in soft loans for telecommunications infrastructure projects
in the country. Both the Ministry and the Secretary
reiterated that the GOB wanted to expand their projects
further but were resource constrained ) and therefore
desired even greater private investments and multilateral
aid. The Ambassador replied that we would continue to make
sure that American companies helped Bangladesh in any way
they could.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) The Minister,s plans, while grand, could help
revolutionize Bangladesh if fully implemented. The potential
to have a significant impact in the lives of 150 million
people and the opportunity for U.S. companies remains huge.
Clearly, the GOB does not have the resources or the capacity
to go it alone and will need outside help. There are a
number of American companies that fit the bill both in terms
of developing the country,s telecommunications
infrastructure and also follow on technologies that make use
of it. Post will continue to work with the U.S. private
sector to maximize U.S. firms' profitable participation in
DHAKA 00000709 002 OF 002
creating a digital Bangladesh.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ENRG PREL TINT BG
SUBJECT: CREATING A DIGITAL BANGLADESH: POSTS AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS MINISTER DESCRIBES GRAND AMBITIONS
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Bangladesh,s Posts and Telecommunications
Minister, Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, described at length his
ambitious plans for expanding the country,s
telecommunications infrastructure ) towards the goal of
creating a &digital Bangladesh8 by the year 2021. In a
meeting with the Ambassador on July 15, Raju spoke of the
need to increase foreign investment and promote
public-private partnerships in the telecommunications sector.
He also declared that the government was committed to
extending internet connectivity to the rural areas. The
Ambassador noted that a number of American firms were
interested in the participating in this endeavor.
A computer in every school
--------------
2. (SBU) The Minister pointed out that the Government of
Bangladesh (GOB) would start deploying fiber optic cable in
the headquarters of the districts and sub-districts
throughout the country. However, because a majority of the
population resided in remote rural areas, the GOB planned to
make internet available in the villages nationwide by using
wireless broadband. Raju added that one of his chief
priorities was to put a computer in every school house,
noting that unlike children in the capital, most children in
the villages did not have access to the benefits of
technology. The Ambassador replied that a number of American
companies were watching developments closely. He pointed out
that the prospects for new initiatives like telemedicine,
following the expansion of internet connectivity, were
exciting.
And a phone in every pocket(
--------------
3. (SBU) The Ministry,s Secretary mentioned that the
present government,s strategy also was to increase levels of
cell phone penetration ) raising it from slightly under 40
percent of the population owning cell phones to 95 percent in
the next 10 years. He added that rising levels of cell phone
usage had revolutionized life in the villages, pointing out
that the cost of phone calls had also dropped significantly
in the last several years. As a result of cell phone
technology people living in villages were now able to
communicate more easily and conduct business with one
another. The Ambassador agreed that Bangladesh had been
successful in leapfrogging an entire phase of technology in
its telecommunications development.
Public private partnerships
--------------
4. (SBU) The Ambassador inquired whether the private sector
would be involved in the government,s initiatives. The
Minister noted that private sector involvement was critical
and that Grameenphone, the country,s leading phone and
internet provider, was already working with the GOB in the
rural areas. (Note: another leading NGO, Bangladesh Rural
Advanced Committee (BRAC),is also involved in technology
related initiatives in the villages. End note.) He also
added that wireless broadband and other technologies, like
voice over internet protocol, would be open to foreign
investment. According to the Minister, the Chinese and the
Japanese governments were planning to offer nearly $1 billion
in soft loans for telecommunications infrastructure projects
in the country. Both the Ministry and the Secretary
reiterated that the GOB wanted to expand their projects
further but were resource constrained ) and therefore
desired even greater private investments and multilateral
aid. The Ambassador replied that we would continue to make
sure that American companies helped Bangladesh in any way
they could.
Comment
--------------
5. (SBU) The Minister,s plans, while grand, could help
revolutionize Bangladesh if fully implemented. The potential
to have a significant impact in the lives of 150 million
people and the opportunity for U.S. companies remains huge.
Clearly, the GOB does not have the resources or the capacity
to go it alone and will need outside help. There are a
number of American companies that fit the bill both in terms
of developing the country,s telecommunications
infrastructure and also follow on technologies that make use
of it. Post will continue to work with the U.S. private
sector to maximize U.S. firms' profitable participation in
DHAKA 00000709 002 OF 002
creating a digital Bangladesh.
MORIARTY