Objective

• Facilitating the provision of telecommunication services using the bandwidth of Bangabandhu Satellite-1.
• Creation of telecommunication infrastructure for the people of remote, inaccessible, and coastal areas.
• Elimination of disparity in digital services for the people of remote, remote and coastal areas.
• Creation of infrastructure to provide internet services to marginal users.
• Providing training to users to enable them to use V-SAT Hub and Remote Terminal.

Results

• Setting up of 1 V-SAT hub at Sajeeb Wazed Satellite Ground Station, Gazipur and redundancy at Sajeeb Wazed Satellite Ground Station, Betbunia for expansion of satellite network;
• Provision of 150 V-SAT remote terminals and associated equipment;
• Installation of 100 V-SAT terminals under the project;
• Installation of NMS system for monitoring all active network devices installed;
• Bandwidth resources for Bangandhu Satellite-1 for one year.

Impact

• Eliminating the digital divide in remote, remote and coastal areas.
• Capacity building of users to use V-SAT technology.
• Increasing the country's capacity to expand telecommunication networks using satellites.
• Creation of telecommunication medium to reach the doorstep of the people in remote areas.
• To promote e-commerce, e-services, and telemedicine through the use of ICT.
• Local ISP providers will be developed to provide internet services to marginal users. As a result, employment will be created through the use of ICT.
• Students from remote areas will be easily exposed to modern technology including ICT in the outside world and will be able to expose themselves.
• Telecommunication services-dependent workplace/employment will be created.

Why the Government Took This Initiative

Digital Bangladesh is an integral part of the Government's Vision 2021. To implement this vision of the government, the government has announced a commitment to establish a robust, modern, and high-capacity information and communication technology infrastructure across the country. For this purpose, initiatives have been taken to complete the communication technology network establishment program across the country on a priority basis. "Bangabandhu Satellite-1" is a unique milestone in the construction of Digital Bangladesh by Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the strong conviction of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build Sonar Bangla. People in remote, inaccessible and coastal areas are deprived of telecommunication services and consequently various types of e-services. To eliminate the disparity in digital facilities between the people of urban and remote areas, telecommunication services to the people of remote and inaccessible areas (Haor-Baor, hilly areas, various townships including Sundarbans region) by establishing telecommunication network by using the bandwidth of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and V-SAT technology. It will be possible to deliver various types of e-services to the public and private sector and their entry into the world of information technology will be easier.

Background

A large number of people in remote, inaccessible, and coastal areas are deprived of telecommunication services and all types of e-services.

V-SAT Remote Terminal and Licensed Modem are essential to receive Bangabandhu Satellite-1 services at the marginal level. Till now V-SAT related equipment is import dependent product. As V-SAT-related equipment is dependent on import, it is complicated and time-consuming to procure them separately for each customer.

No one can import V-SAT-related equipment without a V-SAT Hub Operator License. One has to pay BDT 20,100 to BTRC for remote terminal station charge before import. As a result, V-SAT-related equipment is not readily available in the market.

To eliminate the disparity in the digital facilities of the people of remote areas, under this project, it will be possible to facilitate the provision of telecommunication services in the remote and inaccessible areas of different institutions by using the bandwidth of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and installing V-SAT technology equipment.

Taking these issues into consideration, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited will provide V-SAT remote terminal collection to the users as per requirement, including setting up of V-SAT hub network under this project.

Difficulties for Implementation

• Among 48 unions under this project, 38 unions did not have any optical fiber connection and others had limited connectivity.
• All the sites are in remote, inaccessible, and coastal areas; so, transportation of equipment to the site is very difficult.
• Ensuring proper security for all the sites was an initial challenge.
• Due to a lack of knowledge about VSAT technology, users were not initially comfortable.
• Access permission from all relevant stakeholders was a time-consuming process.   

Description of the Project: 

Digital Bangladesh is an integral part of the Government's Vision 2021. To implement this vision of the government, the government has announced a commitment to establish a robust, modern, and high-capacity information and communication technology infrastructure across the country. For this purpose, initiatives have been taken to complete the communication technology network establishment program across the country on a priority basis.

On 12th 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 Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) is the only state-owned satellite operator of Bangladesh under the Post and Telecommunications Division of Bangladesh that 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 a shortest time of launching of BS-1, BSCL has been able to onboard 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.
BSCL has also taken initiatives to spread the Banking facilities upto remote areas providing communication services to bank.
Besides this, BSCL is working hard to “Connect the unconnected”, i.e. closing the “Digital Divide” within the country. People in remote, inaccessible and coastal areas are deprived of telecommunication services and consequently various types of e-services. 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 “Providing telecommunication connectivity in various infrastructure located in remote, inaccessible and coastal areas of Bangladesh using Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Project”. In guidance of ICT advisor of Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, BSCL took this initiative to connect 48 remote unions through BS-1. Social obligatory fund of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission funded the project.
Through this project, It will be possible to deliver various types of e-services to the public and private sector and their entry into the world of information technology will be easier. It is expected that at around 400K people will be benefitted directly or indirectly with this connectivity.
Under this project, One VSAT Hub of 2000 (Two thousand) remote VSAT capability & associated networking devices installed at Sajeeb Wazed Satellite Ground station, Gazipur. 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 free of cost to the user.
115 institutes from 48 remote unions are planned to be connected of which 49 Nos. educational institutes, 24 Nos. administrative offices, 16 nos. Health institutes & 26 Nos. camps/Border Observation Points. Till January 2024, 52 sites have been implemented and it is expected that all the sites will be completed by May 2024.
During the hazardous flood in 2022 in Sylhet, Sunamganj area, the project played an important part by providing logistic and equipment support. 40 Sites were established in that area and through Bangabandhu Satellite-1 disrupted communication was live.

Project Areas:

Network Topology of the project:

Infrastructure Topology

Uplink System: 

Remote Site:

Action lines related to this project

• AL C2. Information and communication infrastructure  2024

  75%
   
• AL C4. Capacity building

  25%
   

Sustainable development goals related to this project

• Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

  10%
   
• Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

  50%
   
• Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

  10%
   
• Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

  10%
   
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

  10%
   

   

Replicability

The project can be replicated to connect the remote area through Satellite.

Sustainability

The accomplishments of RIC Project as of the third quarter of 2024 indicate that all planned initiatives are on track to realize the country's desire to ensure that the public of remote, inaccessible and coastal areas can receive more comprehensive VSAT-based internet services so that the public's socio-economic status can be improved. Under this project, all the VSAT & networking equipment are powered through Solar Power which is sustainable and eco-friendly. Even the network infrastructure can be used as PoP for fiber-based communication. BSCL is responsible to operate & maintain the network even after the completion of the project.

Promoting WSIS Values

This initiative contributes a lot to promoting WSIS values in Bangladesh. The project aims to develop connectivity and digitalization in the telecommunication sector of Bangladesh. Along with this initiative, people in remote, inaccessible, and coastal areas of Bangladesh will have access to internet service. WSIS aims to revolutionize the growth of information and telecommunication in a country through government and all stakeholders working together. This project upholds the value exactly. This initiative paves the way for the growth of the information and communication of our country. Encouraging people to be connected and eliminating the digital divide, “Providing telecommunication connectivity in various infrastructure located in remote, inaccessible and coastal areas of Bangladesh using Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Project” promotes the WSIS values in our community..

Contribution to the implementations of WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals

Contribution of the project to the implementation of WSIS action line and Sustainable Development Goals –
1. Eliminating the digital divide in remote, remote and coastal areas.
2. Capacity building of users to use V-SAT technology.
3. Increasing the country's capacity to expand telecommunication networks using satellites.
4. Creation of telecommunication medium to reach the doorstep of the people in remote areas.
5. To promote e-commerce, e-services, and telemedicine through the use of ICT.
6. Local ISP providers will be developed to provide internet services to marginal users. As a result, employment will be created through the use of ICT.
7. Students from remote areas will be easily exposed to modern technology including ICT in the outside world and will be able to expose themselves.
8.Telecommunication services-dependent workplace/employment will be created.