The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) stated that it will take measures to increase the internet bandwidth in the dzongkhags.
As of now, each dzongkhag has a bandwidth of 12mbps. Information and Communications Minister, DN Dhungyel, said, “Those dzongkhags with high population like, Trashigang, Mongar and Samtse will have to share the above strength within the population of the dzongkhags, and hence the speed will be not good.”
However, Lyonpo said that the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) along with Department of Information Technology &Telecom (DITT), MoIC have started the verification of the bandwidth, whereby every dzongkhag will be augmented as required.
“This is being planned to complete within this fiscal year. There will be improvement in the strength of the internet by then,” Lyonpo added.
The department is in the process of revamping the Government Intranet Network (GIN) with the backbone of 10 gigabits per second (gbps). The GIN network will be extended to the different dzongkhags, where each dzongkhag will be connected with minimum of 1 gbps at access level.
In the last financial year (2014-2015), the department has increased the dzongkhag internet leased line bandwidth from 1 mbps to 4 mbps. The bandwidth was increased based on the number of users (number of devices connected) which includes the users from Community Centres (CCs).
Lyonpo also said, “Since there are also video conference equipment installed in dzongkhags and CCs, the minimum bandwidth of 8mbps required by the video conference system was also provided.”
MoIC has completed the technical design of the network, with the finalizing the terms of reference (TOR) and request for proposal (RFP) to be complete by end of September 2015.
The ministry expects to float the tender by mid October 2015 and the revamp of core network will be completed within this financial year, and the extension of network to dzongkhags is scheduled to be completed by the next financial year.
“As you know Internet Connection Module (ICM) Act is being submitted for discussion in the Cabinet on August 25. We shall share the same once it is passed by the Cabinet,” MoIC Minister said.
