The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Bhutan faced severe Internet disruptions on friday as a result of a damaged link in India, causing congestion and unpredictable downtime.
CEO of Tashi InfoComm Limited, Tashi Tshering, said, “Our TATA link has been damaged in India, leading to congestion. We depend on our partners, and when their fiber is broken, it’s beyond our control.”
He said that depending on the damage, it will determine how long it will take to fix the issue. Meantime, the CEO said they apologize to the customers for bearing the inconveniences.
Bhutan Telecom (BT), one of the major internet service providers, confirmed the issue, stating, “Due to an international link failure, customers will experience Internet speed fluctuations.”
BT CEO Karma Jurme added, “The resolution time is unclear because the extent of the problem is not fully determined.”
Upon asking him about the Third Internet Gateway, the BT CEO said that discussions are going on and they are not sure when it can be implemented.
Amidst this crisis, Bhutan’s government has been working to establish the Third International Internet Gateway, a collaboration with Bangladesh and India facilitated by the GovTech Agency.
Prime Minister Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering emphasized the significance of this project stating that this development is a substantial milestone for Bhutan’s ICT sector.
Bhutan’s landlocked status has always posed challenges for direct access to submarine cable landing stations.
The GovTech Agency has been actively working to extend telecommunication and broadband services to every corner of the country, thereby stimulating demand for Internet bandwidth. The increase in demand is expected to contribute to potentially lowering the cost of Internet services across the nation.
The finalized route for the Third International Gateway, connecting Gelephu, Bhutan, to Agartala, India, and extending to Comilla, Bangladesh-Kuakata, Singapore, promises redundant international Internet connectivity. Negotiations with the Government of Bangladesh and Government of India have led to competitive tariff rates, ensuring affordable access at USD 4. 5 per Mbps per month for Bhutanese citizens. Bangladesh is giving a discounted rate and India is giving some subsidy.
Currently, Bhutan relies on a congested corridor in Siliguri, India, for its international Internet connectivity. The vulnerability of this single point of access has been a cause for concern, as any disruption in this region could sever Bhutan’s connection to the global digital landscape. With the establishment of the Third International Internet Gateway through Bangladesh, Bhutan will get a chance to enjoy redundant international Internet connectivity, safeguarding the country against potential disruptions and ensuring continuous access to the worldwide web.
Meanwhile, the Acting Secretary of GovTech, Jigme Tenzing, revealed an agreement had been reached, but operators Bhutan Telecom and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) were still working on the operational details.
Regarding the involvement of Tashi Cell in the Third Internet Gateway, it was stated that an agreement was in place to provide the gateway through Bhutan Telecom. Hopes were expressed for progress among other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the near future.
The Secretary confirmed the Internet congestion in the interim and says it was caused by a downed line between Siliguri and Bhutan. As a result, the only line that exists is being used to transport all traffic.
He said, “Given that others who have attempted to address the issue have failed, it is difficult to provide a definite time frame. It is taking longer to fix the problem because our Internet wires are above the power lines. To prevent electrocution, we must turn off the electricity, cooperate with the utility, and keep an eye out for anyone working to fix the Internet. It is hard to estimate when it will be resolved because coordination takes time.”
For the time being, offices in Tech Park Thimphu have been dismissed with the hope of coming and working again the next day with restored Internet connectivity.
Internet was restored on friday night.
