Bhutan 200: Lowering the Cost of Local Internet Access
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Grant Amount: US$ 9,000
Keywords: INTERNET, ACCESS, BANDWIDTH, RURAL, GOVERNANCE, BHUTAN
Geographic coverage: Bhutan
Objective
The objective of this project is to research ways of reducing Internet access costs in Bhutan.
Research context
Many studies on Internet use in Bhutan have identified the high cost of access, low international bandwidth and lack of relevant local content as the main barriers to adoption of Internet-based technologies. As a consequence, citizens are missing out on the efficient dissemination of information and services and the beneficial 'network effect' of increasing the number of citizens online. The project aims to research alternative approaches and propose technical and business solutions that can be deployed by Bhutan's Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to increase domestic Internet traffic. The project will evaluate using an alternative dial-up internet access number (200), to access Bhutanese hosted content.
Target beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of the project are the citizens of Bhutan, who can benefit by lower Internet access charges for domestic Internet traffic. Other beneficiaries include ISPs and the local information and communications technology (ICT) industry that benefit from increased demand for local content and locally hosted applications.
Outputs
The research results are a technical feasibility report that distinguishes between local and international Internet traffic, and a how to business guide for current and future ISPs in Bhutan. These results are relevant to any country in Asia-Pacific interested in increasing local web content and reducing Internet access prices for citizens to access local content.
Research results and outcomes
At the time of writing this project remained technically incomplete. Some reasons for delays are that the project manager left the organization and that additional funding was being sought from other sources to meet the total amount required to complete the project.
The project is outsourced to Druknet, Bhutan Telecom Ltd., a local service provider. Druknet carried out a technical feasibility study to identify the equipment required to restrict Internet traffic within Bhutan and performed testing on the introduction of Intranet services in the country. A local firm has been identified for establishing the national Intranet. The project has been granted an extension and results are expected in September 2006.
Duration
Start Date: February 2005
End Date: September 2006
Total Duration: 19 Months
Contact information
Mr Tenzin Chhoeda, Director
Department of Information Technology
Ministry of Information and Communications
Royal Government of Bhutan
Post Box 482, Thimphu, Bhutan
Telephone: +975 2 322 925
Fax: +975 2 328 440
Email: director@dit.gov.bt
Website: http://www.dit.gov.bt
Keywords: INTERNET, ACCESS, BANDWIDTH, RURAL, GOVERNANCE, BHUTAN
Geographic coverage: Bhutan
Objective
The objective of this project is to research ways of reducing Internet access costs in Bhutan.
Research context
Many studies on Internet use in Bhutan have identified the high cost of access, low international bandwidth and lack of relevant local content as the main barriers to adoption of Internet-based technologies. As a consequence, citizens are missing out on the efficient dissemination of information and services and the beneficial 'network effect' of increasing the number of citizens online. The project aims to research alternative approaches and propose technical and business solutions that can be deployed by Bhutan's Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to increase domestic Internet traffic. The project will evaluate using an alternative dial-up internet access number (200), to access Bhutanese hosted content.
Target beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of the project are the citizens of Bhutan, who can benefit by lower Internet access charges for domestic Internet traffic. Other beneficiaries include ISPs and the local information and communications technology (ICT) industry that benefit from increased demand for local content and locally hosted applications.
Outputs
The research results are a technical feasibility report that distinguishes between local and international Internet traffic, and a how to business guide for current and future ISPs in Bhutan. These results are relevant to any country in Asia-Pacific interested in increasing local web content and reducing Internet access prices for citizens to access local content.
Research results and outcomes
At the time of writing this project remained technically incomplete. Some reasons for delays are that the project manager left the organization and that additional funding was being sought from other sources to meet the total amount required to complete the project.
The project is outsourced to Druknet, Bhutan Telecom Ltd., a local service provider. Druknet carried out a technical feasibility study to identify the equipment required to restrict Internet traffic within Bhutan and performed testing on the introduction of Intranet services in the country. A local firm has been identified for establishing the national Intranet. The project has been granted an extension and results are expected in September 2006.
Duration
Start Date: February 2005
End Date: September 2006
Total Duration: 19 Months
Contact information
Mr Tenzin Chhoeda, Director
Department of Information Technology
Ministry of Information and Communications
Royal Government of Bhutan
Post Box 482, Thimphu, Bhutan
Telephone: +975 2 322 925
Fax: +975 2 328 440
Email: director@dit.gov.bt
Website: http://www.dit.gov.bt
Last modified 2006-08-07 03:41 PM
