The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

An increase of 10 mobile phones per 100 people boosts GDP growth by 0.6 percent while 1 percent increase in the number of Internet users raises total exports by 4.3 percent, a seminar here was told yesterday.

Ms Tenzin Dolma Norbhu, an ICT Policy Specialist of the World Bank, further observed that countries with better information infrastructure have higher GNP per capita growth. "Information infrastructure is a prerequisite for ensuring competitiveness in an increasingly global economy," she said.

Tenzin Norbhu made the observations in a keynote paper titled 'Core Policy Issues and Global Best Practice' at the seminar held at the BEI conference room with BEI President Farooq Sobhan in the chair.

Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised the seminar on "Telecom and ICT Industry in Bangladesh: The Past, the Present and the Future."

Tenzin Norbhu described ICT as an engine of growth and foundation for an information economy. Referring to the untold opportunities in the IT and IT enabled offshore industry, she said Bangladesh have the potentials to get into the industry, especially software exports.

The ICT policy expert also underlined the need for convergence of telecommunications, computing, software, consumer electronics, etc. "It should be ensured that policy and regulatory environment can help maximize the rewards of convergence," she said. She also emphasized the need for converging laws and bodies or regulatory institutions to ensure better coordination and avoid overlapping of regulatory authorities. The seminar was participated, among others, by Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Maj Gen (retd) Manzurul Alam, Post and Telecommunication Secretary Iqbal Mahmood, Executive Chairman of Board of Investment (BoI) Kamal Uddin Ahmed and Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission Faruq Ahmed Siddiqi.

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of Grameenphone Anders Jensen presented another keynote paper on 'Telecom and ICT Industry in Bangladesh' in which he outlined the history of mobile telephony in the country and its contributions to the economy.

He said mobile telephony has been a burgeoning sector since mid-1990s and grew very fast with six companies now operating in the country having a total of some 39 million subscribers.

Jensen said Tk 24,000 crore have so far been invested for building the mobile infrastructure in the country. He called for public-private cooperation to sustain the growth of mobile telephony and ICT sectors.

Addressing the seminar, BTRC Chairman Maj. Gen. (retd) Manzurul Alam said the Commission is trying to address the problems facing the mobile telecom and ICT sectors and would ensure an efficient spectrum management.

He said an alternative submarine cable would soon be put in place in partnership with the private sector to further improve global connectivity.

The seminar was attended by top officials and experts from different mobile operators, including Banglalink CEO Rashid Khan, Citycell CEO Michael Seymour, Aktel Chairman Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Warid Telecom CEO Muneer Farooki and Country Officer of Citibank N.A Mamun Rashid.