Transcript OSS In Bangladesh

An Overview of ICT and OSS in Bangladesh
Presentation
by
Sayeed Rahman
Founder of BANGLA IT
at
3rd Asia Open Source Software
Symposium, Hanoi Vietnam
March, 2004
http://www.banglait.org
Outline of Presentation
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The need for ICT in Bangladesh
Background development of ICT in Bangladesh
Overview of Bangladesh Economy
The need for OSS in Bangladesh
Present Position of OSS in Bangladesh
Present position of ICT in Bangladesh
Future Plan for OSS in Bangladesh
The need for ICT in Bangladesh
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ICT plays an indispensable role in promoting openness,
accessibility,accountability, connectivity, democracy and
decentralization- all the “soft” qualities so essential for
effective social, economic, and political development.
Bangladesh needs the capacity to network with people,
ideas and initiatives. This is as critical and fundamental
to nation building as water, agriculture, health and
housing, and without it, Bangladesh’s democracy could
founder.
Background development of ICT in Bangladesh
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Computer use started back in 1964 by Atomic Energy Center, Dhaka and
Universities, first main frame computer came to Bangladesh in 1964
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The Internet came late in Bangladesh, with UUCP e-mail beginning in 1993 and IP
connectivity in 1996 . By July 1997 there were an estimated 5,500 IP and UUCP
accounts. Source: http://www.c2o.org/reports/Report_PAN_Asia_Networking.pdf
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In June, 1996 the government decided to allow private companies to act as Internet
Services Providers (ISPs) using VSATs.
In June 1997, the Government of Bangladesh appointed a Committee to look into the
problems and prospects of export of software from Bangladesh. The Committee
submitted its report in September, 1997.
http://www.sdnbd.org/sdi/issues/IT-computer/expartsoft-report.htm
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The government has taken a decision on June, 1998 to withdraw all
import duties and VAT from all computer hardware and software. This has
brought the prices of computers down to a level affordable by middle income
households
Overview of Bangladesh Economy
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Population: 146.7 million (UN, 2003)
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Area Total: 144,000 sq km
Purchasing Power Parity: $1,800 (2002 est.)
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Average annual income: US $360 (World Bank, 2001)
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GDP - real growth rate: 5.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 36%
Unemployment rate: 35% (2001 est.)
Literacy Rate Total: 41% (2001)
Exports: $6.6 billion (2001)
Imports: $8.7 billion (2001)
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Internet domain: .bd
International dialling code: +880
The need for OSS in Bangladesh
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Open source is especially appealing to developing countries such
as Bangladesh, which see it as a way to help close the
technological divide that separates rich and poor nations
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Microsoft Windows and Office cost at least $140 in
Bangladesh -- way out of reach for most people, where
the per capita annual income is roughly $380.
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The economic logic of using software that's free is hard to resist,
and more and more countries seem willing to take a chance on
it. China, Japan and South Korea recently announced that they
will work together to develop an open-source alternative to
Microsoft
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The OSS is Bangladesh’s solution to software piracy, a
rampant problem that threatens to derail the country's
economic aspirations.
Present Position of OSS in Bangladesh
Mostly all 50 Software Developing Houses in Bangladesh uses
OSS like MySQL database server, PHP, Perl, Apache web server
More than 25% of Total 21 Public and 51 Private Universities
which producing 6000 ICT related graduate every year in
Bangladesh uses OSS. Bangladesh University of Engineering and
Technology’s Institute of Information and Communication
Technology (IICT) taking leading role to Promote OSS among
Academia and Industry with BANGLA IT joint initiative
Different Universities taking initiative for Extensive use of OSS
More than 50% Government Ministry offices uses OSS like Linux
Operating System and MySQL databases
Present Position of OSS in Bangladesh
Total ISP in Bangladesh now operating 62. Initially few ISPs
started to move to Linux. Currently 90% ISPs in
Bangladesh are dependent on OSS like Linux, Apache,
PHP, MySQL, SendMail etc.
Bangladeshi ISP’s are the pioneer in adopting OSS
Linux, PHP, MySQL are the most used OSS in Bangladesh
Present position of ICT in Bangladesh
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BANGLADESH ICT INDICATOR
Source: BANGLA IT Research as of JAN-2004
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Telecom Infrastructure in Bangladesh
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850,000 fixed lines Operated by BTTB- (Government monopoly).
Next five yrs demand for fixed lines will be 3.5 million and
experts think BTTB will be unable to deliver.
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1.8 million Mobile Phones- Operated by Four Company
Bangladesh is a market now for 13 million Mobile Phones.
Grameen- Current subscriber base of GP is 1 million while it has
coverage in 52 districts including all six divisional headquarters.
GrameenPhone connections would stand at 2 million by 2004.
 32,000 Village phones are in operation in 52 districts, 50,000
Bangladeshi women making living as Grameen phone ladies.
Present position of ICT in Bangladesh
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Internet in Bangladesh
Total ISP: 62
Internet User: 2 million
Dial-Up subscriber accounts 250,000
Broadband subscribers accounts 150,000
While over half of UK households are online, only 0.2% of
homes in Bangladesh are online
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Internet Access Charge went down to .20 paisa/min (2–8am)
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Tk 3000 about $50 for Unlimited Access
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Broadband-64kbs Tk 10,000/month, 128kbs Tk 22,000/month
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512 Kbps Tk 96,000/month Source: Grameen Cybernet
Global Information Superhighway
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Submarine Cable connection to Global
Information Superhighway(SEA-ME-WE-4) will
be ready for service in 2005. It will be built
using DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division
Multiplex) technology with 1.28 terabits per
second speed
Present position of ICT in Bangladesh
ICT Education and Training in Bangladesh
 Total number of ICT related graduate every year
Bangladesh producing now about 6000 from 21
Public and 51 Private Universities.
 More than 100 IT Training Center providing
Diploma and Training in IT.
 A large number of Bangladeshi students are
studying overseas in Computer related subjects,
mainly in India.
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BANGLA IT Future Plans for OSS in Bangladesh
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BANGLA IT is trying to make awareness and
advocacy for OSS in Government and Corporate
level in Bangladesh
BANGLA IT pushing for OSS in Educational
Institutions
Open Source Project Competition in Bangladesh
BANGLA IT has a Plan to arrange a International
Open Source Conference in December 2005 and
National Open Source Convention in December 2004
BANGLADESH FLAG