A total of 587 public universities, government colleges and educational institutions in Bangladesh are being brought under free Wi-Fi coverage. Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL) is set to launch this project from Sunday (today) across Bangladesh.
Providing details, Posts, Telecommunications and IT Minister Mustafa Jabbar said: “After completion of this project, students will be able to use high speed broadband internet through Wi-Fi free of cost.
“In the first phase, a total of 587 public universities, government colleges and educational institutions will get the Wi-Fi coverage. Later, private universities, colleges and other educational institutions such as schools will get free Wi-Fi.”
He added: “The Wi-Fi service (10mbps for each institution) will remain free for the first year, as it will allow us to gauge the impact of the project. Then we will think about service charges. This service must secure additional funding, or it will not remain sustainable.”
The correspondent has learned that the project was approved in July this year, but faced delays in the appointment of a project director.
Among the 587 education institutions getting free Wi-Fi, 143 are in Dhaka Division, 35 in Mymensingh Division, 107 in Chittagong Division, 45 in Barisal Division, 83 in Khulna Division, 85 in Rajshahi Division, 56 in Rangpur Division and 33 in Sylhet Division.
The government is spending around Tk45 crore for this project. A separate fiber optic cable network will be built in government universities, colleges and educational institutions in eight divisions throughout Bangladesh.
According to sources, a project is ongoing for providing broadband connection to 2,000 unions across the country. After the conclusion of that project, free Wi-Fi services will be provided to government colleges and educational institutions in those unions.
The Info-Sarker Project (Phase 3), later renamed “Establishing Digital Connectivity Project”, is a government endeavor for expanding the use of high-end information and communication technology in Bangladesh.
Under this project the secretariat has been brought under Wi-Fi coverage.