Key ICT Information

• The Internet and television were introduced for the first time on 2 June 1999.
• A recent survey showed that, out of 54 public and private sectors, 34 have their own LANs. It is estimated that there are around 5,000 computers in the country with around 2,500 in government offices, corporations and a few select firms. Out of these, 1,130 are connected to the Internet, with 221 IT professionals managing them
• It is estimated that there are around 5,000 computers in the country with around 2,500 in government offices, corporations and a few select firms.
• Out of these, 1,130 are connected to the Internet, with 221 IT professionals managing them.
• Bhutan Telecom has reduced telecommunications rates by almost 50 percent within two years.
• Internet charges have been reduced from Nu 1,500 for 15 hours of Internet time to Nu 850 since June 1999. (1US$ ~ Nu. 47)
• Most of the 1,200 direct dial-up Internet users or 3,000 Internet users10 are from the two major towns of Thimphu and Phuentsholing.

Education

• There are 361 educational institutions in Bhutan, most of them community and primary schools.
• More than 100 nonformal education centres were established within the last decade. The government has earmarked a special budget of Nu 5 million every year for this purpose.
• An independent sector study showed that 82 percent of Internet usage is in e-mail correspondence in the education sector alone.

Technology

• The telecommunications network uses digital technology, with 2 Mbps as the primary base band, together with an 8 GHz band microwave radio carrier.
• Some low-frequency provide computers with access to the Internet to all schools. The government has earmarked a special budget of Nu 5 million every year for this purpose.

Initiatives

Multi-purpose Community Telecentre

A multi-purpose community telecentre was successfully established in central Bhutan by IDRC and ITU.

Health

Health telematics or telemedicine was piloted by the health sector.

Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture is implementing its Enterprise Network to link all its research and extension centres and will incorporate renewable natural resources information in this system.

Education projects

Sherubtse College has introduced a popular three-year winter programme on IT study for select high school teachers. This is part of a wider ICT project of the education sector.

The Department of Information Technology (DIT) is conducting nationwide computer literacy training among students. The Planning Commission is also training district sector heads in the use of computers.

Government

• Many government offices have established ICT departments and developing their own websites.
• The Ministry of Trade and Industries is planning to implement an eCommerce project focusing on rural women. The Internet, however, is totally absent in the banking sector.

Others

• Almost all travel agents use the Internet for marketing and customer service on a limited basis.
• Bhutan Post, along with Bhutan Telecom, is implementing an epost venture pilot project with financial assistance from ITU and Universal Postal Union. This is a new concept being piloted in Bhutan for the first time.

Source: Digital Review for Asia Pacific