Telecommunication Needs for the Internet Infrastructure in Bangladesh Presentation at the Workshop on Nationwide Internet Access & Online Applications Dhaka, Bangladesh 23 May 2004 Professor Saifur Rahman, Director Manisa Pipattanasomporn, Graduate Student Alexandria Research Institute Virginia Tech IT Facts in Bangladesh 50 telephone lines and 3 Internet users per 10,000 population High installation charge of roughly $200 for a new telephone line Long waiting time for a new connection of 2-4 years
Themes for Discussion Review existing IT infrastructures in Bangladesh Review various access technologies Identify least-cost ICT solutions for Internet access in Bangladesh Broad Benefits from ICT ICT for Education ICT for Health ICT for Economic Opportunity ICT for Empowerment and Participation
ICT for Education Wireless web reaches village children Using computers to assist in teaching mathematics Source: BBC News Primary school children are introduced to computers using multimedia CDs. Source: BBC News Schools in remote villages can serve as a venue for adult education, health care and small business activities ICT for Health The telecentre in Sonagazi Source: BBC News New horizons for Bangladeshi doctors Online medical centers to provide better care for the sick CD-ROMs to show how to better treat patients Transmission of tests to the hub in the capital city for analysis
ICT for Economic Opportunity ICT can contribute to better marketing opportunities through access to information on: Weather Farming best practice Crop status Global market price ICT for Empowerment and Participation ICT contributes to fostering empowerment, and making government processes more efficient. State of Madhya Pradesh, India Faster and more transparent access to government services. Farmers can get copies of land titles for 10 cents (previously $100 from corrupt officials).
Existing IT Infrastructure in Bangladesh Satellite Microwave Links Optical Fiber Links Cellular Coverage Satellite & Microwave Links Satellite is the only way to communicate internationally Microwave links are the major communication backbone of the country Microwave speed range from 34-155 Mbps Source: BTTB Annual Report 2001
Grameen Coverage as of March 2004 Railway lines Fiber Links & Cellular Coverage Backbone is transferred from microwave links to optical fiber links Roughly 1,800-km fiber is installed along 2,900-km railway track Leased by Grameen telephone to spread telecom footprint across the country Source: www.gsmworld.com Internet Access Alternatives < 35km > 35km Last-Mile Technologies Wireline: POTS, DSL, Cable Modem Wireless: Fixed Wireless (WLL, LMDS, MMDS, VSAT) Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
POTS/DSL POTS = Plain Old Telephone Service (56 Kbps) DSL = Digital Subscriber Line (768 Kbps) Telephone Internet Router ISP Modem PSTN Modem Computer POTS: simplest way to connect to Internet, just modem and PC DSL: a high-speed connection via a telephone lines Cable Modem Delivering high-speed Internet services over cable TV systems (0.5-1Mbps) A splitter splits the signal to TV outlets and the cable modem Cable modem connects directly to the PC
CorDECT WLL Repeater End user End user CorDECT WLL = Wireless Local Loop based on DECT standard CorDECT WLL has been used extensively in India for rural telecommunication WLL provides: Base Station Simultaneous telephone and Internet connection (35-70kbps) Source: www.srtelecom.com MMDS/LMDS MMDS: support max 3.2Mbps per base station, maximum coverage of 20-km NLOS LMDS: support max 155Mbps, maximum coverage of 3 km with LOS connection
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN 802.11) Operates in unlicensed bands Provides speed of up to 54Mbps with 802.11a and up to 11Mbps with 802.11b Coverage 100-300 meters Access Point Wireless Card Up to 50 km WMAN 802.16 802.16 provides path between subscriber sites and a core network It can provide 60 customers with T-1 speed, range of 50km 802.11 can add mobility to users in the building Recently introduced, late 2003
Mobile Broadband (WMAN 802.20) 802.20 seeks to boost real-time data transmission rate to 1 Mbps or more. Cell ranges of up to 15 kms or more. Deliver speed to mobile users traveling at speeds up to 250 km/h. Availability: 2005 or later WWAN WWAN uses cellular networks to enable Internet connection from cellular phones. GSM CDMA GPRS EDGE CDMA2000 WCDMA 2G 2G 2.5G 2.5G 3G 3G 9.6 Kbps 14.4 Kbps 171 Kbps 384 Kbps 2 Mbps 2-10 Mbps Require infrastructure changes, e.g. new base station addon and software upgrade and new handsets
VSAT VSAT = Very Small Aperture Terminal 2.4 m or smaller disk Provide connection in areas with no infrastructure Evaluating Last-Mile Options Cost of ownership Coverage distance Data rate POTS DSL Cable Modem WLL MMDS LMDS 802.11 802.16 802.20 VSAT
Evaluating Last-Mile Options Cost of ownership 1 line 1000 lines Base station* Base station controller, PSTN interface module, base station interface card, omni directional antenna, installation kit, RAS, lightning protector, router, hubs and accessories, network management software (for 1000 lines) USD 29,600 USD 73,480 Misc.* PC, power supply for base station, O&M software USD 13,350 USD 13,350 WLL Customer equipment* Subscriber unit, power pack adapter, patch antenna, lightning protector Annual Fees to Government** Spectrum fee estimated Tk.30 per year per site per 1kHz for UHF2 (20MHz band); Tk.2000 per set per year of Tx/Rx (24dBm). USD 340 USD 10,000 USD 34 USD 340,000 USD 10,000 USD 34,000 Total USD 53,324 USD 470,830 * Bangladesh FOB price based on a quote from an Indian company (2003) ** Data from Licensing New Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Operators in Private Sector in Bangladesh, BTRC (2003) Coverage distance 10-35km Data rate 35/70 kbps Evaluating Last-Mile Options Cost of ownership 1 line 1000 lines Base station* Base station, base station interface card, antenna, installation kit, lightning protector (for ¼ sector cell), router, hubs and accessories USD 224,500 USD 224,500 Misc.* PC, power supply for base station, O&M software (estimated) USD 13,350 USD 13,350 MMDS Customer equipment* Indoor customer premise equipment, power pack adapter, patch antenna, lightning protector Annual Fees to Government ** Spectrum fee estimated Tk.30 per year per site per 1kHz for UHF2 (3MHz band); Tk.3,000 per set per year of Tx/Rx (29dBm). USD 550 USD 1,500 USD 50 USD 550,000 USD 1,500 USD 50,000 Total USD 239,950 USD 839,350 * Price based on a quote from a US company (2003) ** Data from Licensing New Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Operators in Private Sector in Bangladesh, BTRC (2003) Coverage distance 25km Data rate Max 3.2Mbps
Evaluating Last-Mile Options Cost of ownership 1 line 1000 lines Base station* Libra 5800 Access point for point-to-multipoint system, includes mounting bracket and power supply, router, hubs and accessories USD 18,000 USD 18,000 Misc.* PC, power supply for base station, O&M software (estimated) USD 13,350 USD 13,350 802.16 Customer equipment* Libra 5800 CPE point-to-multipoint system, includes integrated antenna Annual Fees to Government** Spectrum fee estimated Tk.20 per year per site per 1kHz for SHF (10MHz band); Tk.500 per set per year of Tx/Rx (17dBm). USD 1,500 USD 3,400 USD 8 USD 1,500,000 USD 3,400 USD 8,333 Total USD 36,258 USD 1,543,090 * Price based on a quote from www.jts.net/724-36microwaveradio.htm (2004) ** Data from Licensing New Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Operators in Private Sector in Bangladesh, BTRC (2003) Coverage distance 35km Data rate 24Mbps effective Evaluating Last-Mile Options VSAT Disk * Cost of ownership 1 line USD 40,000 1000 lines USD 40,000,000 VSAT Misc.* Router, hubs and accessories (estimated) Annual Fee Internet Provider* Annual Fee to BTTB ** Total USD 4,500 USD 24,000 USD 1,700 USD 70,200 USD 4,500,000 USD 24,000,000 USD 1,700,000 USD 70,200,000 * Price based on Sustainable Development Networking Program (SDNBD) www.sdnbd.org/sdi/issues/it-computer/it_revolution_a_millennium_opportunity.htm ** Data from Licensing New Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Operators in Private Sector in Bangladesh, BTRC (2003) Coverage distance few km with copper wire Data rate 64kbps 2Mbps
Costs Comparison user perspective Options Data Rate 0-10 km Distance from LE 10-20 km 20-35 km >35 km Cost/line (USD) 1 line 1000 lines Last-Mile MMDS WLL 802.16 3 Mbps 35/70 kbps 24 Mbps 239,950 53,324 36,258 840 470 1,543* Long-Haul VSAT Microwave Fiber 2 Mbps 140 Mbps 1 Gbps 70,200 n/a n/a 70,200* n/a n/a * Sharable bandwidth Other Costs Access charge to use PSTN from BTTB: BTTB charges a one-time registration fee of Tk10,000; installation and testing fee of Tk30,000 at 2Mbps; and a rental fee of Tk76,000 per annum. Personal Wireless Services: these may include wireless design services, site survey services, wireless engineering services, installation and maintenance support. Other costs: these may include cost of towers, recurring costs, end-user equipment, housing infrastructure and power supply.
ICT Solution for Bangladesh Take a closer look at a target country: Bangladesh Area: 144,000 km 2 - Flat terrain Population: 133 million people (925 persons/km 2 ) Infrastructure: optical fiber, cellular tower, microwave station With existing infrastructures, WLL or 802.16 are least-cost options. In any case, backbone must be able to support data needed at base stations Possibility for Nationwide Telecom- and-internet Access in Bangladesh 35 km coverage In Bangladesh, about 90% of the population could be served by as few as 25 towers with multiple base stations using WLL or 802.16 technologies.
Conclusions Least-Cost ICT Solution for Bangladesh Recommend WLL or 802.16 for Bangladesh. Per unit cost will depend on number of clients that can be served from one location To this end, the proposed solutions will vary depending on the available ICT infrastructure, applications, speed requirements, and ability to pay for the services.