Govt to develop 12,800 free Wi-Fi zones in remote areas: Mustafa Jabbar

Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar has said the government is developing 12,800 free Wi-Fi zones throughout the country.

"The government is developing 12,800 free Wi-Fi zones in the remote and tough-to-access areas throughout the country," he said as the chief guest at a webinar discussion on broadband policy in Dhaka today.

Terming the internet as a lifeline of the people's livelihood, the minister said, "We have taken a programme to deliver high speed internet to each union, including the particulary remote areas like islands, chars and haors within 2021."

The country has witnessed revolutionary change in internet expansion in the last twelve years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Jabbar told the function, organised by an international organisation 'Alliance for Affordable Internet'.

In 2008, the unit price of per Mbps internet was Tk 2,700, while it has now come down at Tk 285, he said, adding that the government has taken various programmes to make internet available for all.

Jabbar also said the internet is now a significant tool for education under the widespread Covid-19 pandemic situation, as the government has already connected 587 educational institutions under free Wi-Fi facilities.

The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is firm bound to ensure high speed broadband internet for each person.

Terming Bangladesh as a mobile manufacturing country, the minister said that at one time, Bangladesh was a mobile importing country, but the country is now manufacturing quality mobile phone sets at its 14 mobile factories.

The country is even manufacturing 5G mobile sets for exporting abroad, he added.

The government is working to bring all the mobile towers under 4G networks facilities, he further added.