A recent study on Digital Bangladesh calls for a joint taskforce comprising Ministry of Finance, ICT Ministry and NBR to establish a conductive taxation regime for rapid rollout of broadband services.
The Taskforce will work to rationalize tax regime that will balance Government’s entitlement to reasonable and stable revenue with the needs of operators to be able to predict tax effects and the people of Bangladesh to affordable telecommunications services.
Accessing the mobile Internet is difficult for many Bangladeshis because of the combined effect of low spending power, device costs, and usage costs. Government taxes and fees constitute an additional barrier as taxes amount to 17.6 per cent of the cost of owning and using a mobile phone.
The Study titled “Realizing Digital Bangladesh” was conducted by LIRNEasia, a Telecom think tank in association with Telenor Group and Grameenphone. Information Minister, Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, unveiled the study in a local Hotel today. Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, State Minister, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications & Information Technology, Grameenphone’s CEO Rajeev Sethi, Anir Chowdhury, Policy advisor of a2i and Rohan Samarajiva, CEO, LIRNEasia were present on the occasion.
The study compiled the achievements so far made in realizing Digital Bangladesh, identified priority actions need for the next step of development and set success measurement standards. Rohan Samarajiva took the audience through the study report.
Speaking on the occasion the Information Minister said, “This report will help us to implement Digital Bangladesh in a pragmatic way.”
The study pointed out some areas like youth employment, healthcare, education and climate change which need special attention to realize Digital Bangladesh.
It also mentioned that Mobile broadband will need to be supplemented by a quality and wide-spread fiber network. Competition should be opened up for building better quality fiber network.
State Minister for MOPT&IT said, “Both public and private sector need to work together to implement Digital Bangladesh.”
Anir Chowdhury, Policy advisor of a2i said,”We need a win-win ecosystem, where all public and private stakeholders will be benefitted equally. There should be a holistic approach by all stakeholders to implement Digital Bangladesh.”
Need for improved spectrum management, in particular, issuance of a credible roadmap on when specific frequencies will be made available and introduction of technology neutrality on existing spectrum were emphasized in the study which will allow the operators to provide customers with the services they need, at the right quality and at the right time.
Grameenphone CEO said, “Providing universal and affordable access to Internet is the core to Digital Bangladesh. If we have the right regulatory and investment environment we will be able to provide Internet for All to support the implementation of Digital Bangladesh.”
Grameenphone has an ambition to provide for Internet for All. Under this ambition the company aims to ensure universal access to internet, digital contents and e-services for the people of Bangladesh. Telenor Group also adheres to the same ambition for all of its market around the world.