Ensure inclusive, affordable, and speedy Internet for all

Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) organized a Policy Dialogue 2021 on 26 August, Thursday hosted virtually through an online platform at 3:00 pm. The policy dialogue theme was Inclusive and Affordable Connectivity, of Internet Regulation & 5G Observation. 

Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) is an initiative led by the United Nations for the discussion of public policy issues relating to the internet. The purpose of the dialogue is to empower voices for amplifying and influencing power about Inclusive and Affordable Connectivity, Connectivity Regulation, and 5G Observation.

Prominent experts in the tech industry and from the Internet Governance community addressed in the program. Stakeholders from the Government, Civil Society, Private, Technical Community, Academia, and Youth community participated in the Policy Dialogue. 

Dr. Md. Rafiqul Matin, Managing Director, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), took part in the keynote discussion on Inclusive and Affordable Connectivity.

Mr. Sumon Ahmed Sabir, Chief Technology Officer, Fiber@Home Ltd. Stressed affordable internet and connectivity as well as reduce the digital divide in urban and rural areas.

Mr. Tom Varghese, Head of Connectivity Policy, Asia Pacific, Facebook mentioned how Facebook, build communities and brings the world closer together depends on people being connected. FB focused on developing next-generation technologies that can help bring the cost of connectivity down to reach the unconnected and increase capacity and performance for everyone else. 
Mr. Brig Gen S M Farhad (Retd.) Secretary-General, Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) in his keynote discussion highlighted Connectivity Regulation and 5G Observation and current status of the 3G, 4G, and 5G.

Mr. Samiran Gupta, Head of India, The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Mentioned how ICANN addressing space allocation, protocol identifier assignment, generic and country-code of Top-Level Domain name system management. 

Mr. Rased Mehedi, President, Telecom Reporters' Network Bangladesh (TRNB) and Special Correspondent, The Daily Samakal stressed the policy issues, technical expertise for infrastructural development, introduce 5G, reduce the digital divide, speedy internet, and inclusive connectivity and draw the attention of the concerned authority for consideration of the issue.

Mr. T I M Nurul Kabir, ICT & Telecom Sector Specialist & Executive Director, Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) mentioned that we have to move for 5G, Spectrum, and high frequency for affordable and speedy internet.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam, PEng, Vice-Chancellor, Canadian University of Bangladesh discussed the coordination is important between the supply and demand sides.

Mr. Aminul Hakim, President of, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh highlighted how to reduce the digital divide and ensure Broadband support for the rural areas.

Mr. Reza Salim, Director, Amader Gram and Former South Asia Coordinator of United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (UNWSIS) discussed on the Broadband Commission for Sustainable development meeting the targets 2025 of Connectivity, Affordability, Access, Equality and use for Resilient and secure connectivity. Affordable access and safe use of online services for an informed and educated society are important.

Mr. Subrata Roy Maitra, Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), was present as Special Guest discussed the steps undertaken by the government for inclusive and affordable internet and bring the rural people underconnectivity.

Mr. Mustafa Jabbar, Hon’ble, Minister. Posts and Telecommunications Divisions, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology was present as Chief Guest and mentioned the rural people are expecting them to bring them under connectivity especially to participate their children in online classes. Speedy and affordable internet is the requirement of society. Our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has special attention and concentration on the issue. The government has been working for infrastructural development in the rural areas for affordable and speedy internet within one country's one rate declaration initiatives.

Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, Chair, BIGF & Chairman, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh chaired the session highlighted that the internet has created a revolution in the society, inclusive, affordable and speedy internet connection is important and the policymakers and duty bearers should take more responsibility to work for reducing the digital divide between urban and rural areas. We all should work to reduce the digital divide and discrimination, reduce, governance, multi-stakeholders dimension is necessary, digitalization all sector of the society 

Mr. A H M Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) moderated the dialogue. We should concentrate on the disadvantaged community to bring them underconnectivity. 

Mr. Moahammad Abdul Haque Anu, Secretary-General, Bangladesh Internet Governance coordinated the program.