BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

On 12^th  May 2018, Bangladesh joined the elite club of satellite owner countries by launching country’s first geostationary communication satellite, Bangabandhu Satelllite-1 (BS-1) which is a bold & epic initiative by the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to build the Digital Bangladesh in line with the dream of Father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s “Golden Bangladesh”. 

Bangladesh, though rich in terrestrial optical fiber connectivity and terrestrial microwave links, had the demand of satellite communication service ; specially in broadcasting sector and in providing communication services in the remote areas where reaching through fiber is hard.

Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) is the state owned only satellite operator of Bangladesh under the Post and Telecommunications Division of Bangladesh who is responsible for the R&D, operation, maintenance and commercialization of the Satellites of Bangladesh.  

BSCL is performing with excellence in sales & maintenance of BS-1. Within shortest time of launching of BS-1,  BSCL has been able to on board State own Satellite TV Channels of BTV (Bangladesh Television) along with all the TV channels of Bangladesh, the single DTH services provider of Bangladesh & Bangladesh Betar. BSCL has also introduced multiple carrier per channel (MCPC) technology in the country to uplink contents to satellite in ease.

Progressive activities in providing satellite based “Vessel Tracking & Monitoring System (VTMS)” to the Deep sea fishing vessel is going on alongside providing communication services in naval ships, thus, aiding in Bangladesh’s blue economy.

Besides this, BSCL is working hard to “Connect the unconnected”, i.e. closing the “Digital Divide” within the country. There are lots of remote island and hilly tracks in Bangladesh where any kind of communication is hard, be it fiber or physical. Besides this “Digital Gap”, there is also gap in providing better education and medical service.

But, it is necessary to close this gap within country to enrich the national and subsequently global economy. The SDG goals 9, 10, 11 also states the same.  For this purpose and to achieve SDG goals, BSCL initiated a project named “Establishment of Network to Island areas through Satellite Project”.  In guidance of ICT advisor of Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, BSCL took this initiative to connect the around 40 Island in first phase through BS-1 & the South Asia Satellite (SAS). This South Asia Satellite (SAS) was launched by India for SARRC countries.   When BS-1 was launched, Bangladesh also got one transponder from SARRC friendship satellite.

Social obligatory fund of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission funded the project.

Under this project, One VSAT Hub of 2000 (Two thousand) remote VSAT capability, an uplink system with 7.3 Meter Gateway antenna towards SAS & associated networking devices installed at Sajeeb Wazed Satellite Ground station. This VSAT Hub is integrated with both BS-1uplink system & SAS uplink system which enabled seamless connectivity for the both satellite. For the remote area, VSAT remote terminals, Solar Panels & associated networking devices are provided & installed in free of cost to the user.

Currently 112 institutes from 31 Island are connected of which 70 Nos. educational institutes, 30 Nos. administrative offices, 10 nos. Health institutes & 02 Nos. private organizations.

GOALS AND TIME FRAME: In coastal areas of Bangladesh several Island/Chars are out of fiber optic /Microwave network due to geographic limitation. To bring those Island/Char under connectivity, BSCL took the initiative to establish a VSAT network.

Project was formulated on March 2019 & started activity on June-2019 and will be closed on 30 December 2023.

PROJECTS ADDED VALUE & IMPORTANCE:

Under this project satellite bandwidth is free which enable the cost effective services to the remote and inaccessible areas & Installed device will run through solar power, so that operating cost of the network will be less, environment friendly and sustainable.

Network Type: VSAT Network Used Satellite: Bangabandhu Satellite-1 & South Asia Satellite Current bandwidth: 36 MHz Ground Station location: Sajeeb Wazed Satellite Ground station,Gazipur Covering area: 31 Island/Char Population: Approx. 300K

Figure  Geo-Location of the Project area, The remote areas covered to close the Digital Divide
Figure   Demonstration of E-education and  Telemedicine through VSAT Network - The honorable Prime Minister is talking with the students of a School in remote Island, Charfasson
Figure VSAT Network establishment activity under project.

The people of the island area are deprived of internet services and various government services. Establishing the network in the island areas through this project to bridge the digital divide between the people of urban and remote areas. It will be possible to bring internet services and various government services to the doorsteps of the people of those areas and make their access to the information world easier.

Satellite based network will enables the means of communication during the natural disaster & disaster recovery time.

It is expected that at around 300K people will be benefitted directly or indirectly with this connectivity.

CHALLENGES:

1. Water transport is the only way of communication in these remote areas. During the rainy season the rivers became more rough and erosive. So it is difficult to build fiber Optic or Microwave based communication system in this area.
2. Physical infrastructure is very limited. 

RELEVANCE OF THE PROJECT TO THE RESPECTIVE ACTION LINE:

C2: Information and communication infrastructure: an essential foundation for the Information Society

C4: Capacity building

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) RELATED TO THIS PROJECT:

• Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
• Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
• Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

CONCLUSION:

In June 1975, the Father of our nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inaugurated Betbunia Satellite Earth Station and thus pioneering the advanced tele-communication between Bangladesh and rest of the world. To make the dream of Digital Bangladesh come true, our present government, led by Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, decided to have our own satellite in the outer space to be self-Independent on satellite Sector like other sectors and this contributed in building the “Digital Bangladesh”.  Besides, being not dependent on other satellite in broadcasting industry, Bangladesh through BS-1 and BSCL is also providing e-education, telemedicine service to connect the unconnected, VTMS service which to contribute in blue economy; Plans are also ongoing to provide VSAT service in “Cyclone Centers” in case of natural disasters, connecting all government offices through Bs-1, Providing telecommunication facility to remote destinations of tourist etc. Thus, BSCL working on to achieve SDG goals to enrich the economy and overall development of the Country which will contribute to global development.