COUNTRY REPORT : BHUTAN

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COUNTRY REPORT BHUTAN

• Wangay Dorji
• Head, Telecommunications Section
• Bhutan Information, Communications and Media
  Authority
• THIMPHUBHUTAN

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Present ICT Scenario

• First telecommunications Network established in
  1963
• Three analogue networks (western, eastern and
  central)
• To support the road construction

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Early telecommunications network in Bhutan
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• Modern telecommunications development started on
  in late 1980s
• At present, main transmission backbone consists
  of 34 Mbps digital microwave
• Rural telecommunications is being implemented

Present teledensity for fixed lines is 4.08
and 3.88 for Mobile services
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Present telecom network
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• Internet services started in 1999
• Druknets international bandwidth is 10 Mbps (
  6Mbps upstream and 4 Mbps downstream)
• Two private ISP using VSAT and wireless access
  technologies
• National television services got introduced in
  1999
• Commercial Cable TV services got licensed towards
  end of 1999 and now we have 38 operators within
  the country
• Cellular services ( GSM-900 ) got introduced
  towards end of 2003
• National language ( Dzongkha) is now available
  in all windows-based programmes

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Standardization bodies in Bhutan

• Bhutan Information, Communications and Media
  Authority (BICMA)
• Department of Information Technology (DIT)
• Standards and Quality Control Authority (SQCA)

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ICT Standardization Process

• BICMA is responsible to standardize and type
  approve any telecommunications equipments as per
  Bhutan Telecommunications Act 1999.
• Section 48 of Act states that no person shall
  use any type of telecommunications apparatus
  unless that type has been approved by the
  Director.

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TYPE APPROVAL

• To ensure that such equipments are compatible
  with the National telecommunications
  Infrastructure.
• Categories of equipment requiring type approval
  includes ( but not limited to)
• - telephone instruments, fax machines,
• PABXs, modems, cordless telephones,
• pagers etc.

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Type Approval Procedure

• Equipment needs to meet basic requirement , if
  so, provisional type approval is granted for 6
  months.
• If particular equip. performs satisfactory
  (including after sale service), then it could be
  converted into TYPE APPROVAL and could be
  extended to 5 Years period.
• Any one wanting to purchase communications
  equipment from outside needs to get it type
  approved from BICMA.

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Certification

• Any one dealing with telecommunications
  equipments need to get their product certified
  by BICMA.
• Criteria for dealership certification
• - firms should be financially sound
• - should have after-sale service
• -should have facilities to
  calibrate/programme
• and also provide installation.

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Certification Procedure

• Telecommunications equipment shall be granted
  certificate by BICMA if
• - it has been granted type approval and
  certified
• standards from regional testing and
  certifying
• centers.
• - equipment should meet technical
• specifications recommended by International
• standardization organization like ITU or ETSI.

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• BICMA coordinates with incumbent operator and
  other licensed service providers to ensure the
  specifications are compatible with National PSTN
  and other associated systems.
• BICMA encourages Open Interface standards
  equipments to facilitate interoperability and
  interconnection.
• BICMA issues Compliance Certificate to those
  dealer who fulfills terms and conditions set
  above.

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Challenges

• Physical infrastructure
• Human resource constrain
• BICMA is formulating technical standards and
  guidelines for type approval and certification of
  ICT equipments, including Media.

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Future Activities

• Strengthen the present standardization Unit
• Develop clear guidelines and technical
  regulations
• Proposal to establish National Standardization
  Body
• BICMA will also look into harmonizing ICT
  standards within region (APT).
• There is need to strengthen the Mutual
  Recognition Agreement (MRA).

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Current Standardization Activities in BICMA
Kutsukake,
JICA SV

• Considering
• - Increasing demand for ICT services
• - Accession to WTO
• Based on
• - Bhutan Telecommunications Act 1999
• - National Radio Regulations 1999
• Holding in sight
• - Bhutan Information, Communications and
  Media Bill
• 2005
• In order to provide for
• - Technology-neutral and Service-neutral
  regulator
• mechanism

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Current Standardization Activities in BICMA

• BICMA is developing
• - Technical Specifications for ICT equipment
• - Certification Rules
• - Application Procedures
• Basic Concept for the Standardization Scheme
• - Follow the International Standards
• - Friendly to Bhutan environment

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Big Expectation to APT MRA(APT Mutual
Recognition Arrangement)
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Crucial Point for Standardization?

• It is rather easy to make rules, however
• It is a challenge to smoothly implement them.
• - How to smoothly implement them?
• - How to encourage the public to follow the
  rule?
• - How to effectively do the post-market
  surveillance?
• - How to cooperate with relevant governmental
• organizations?
• - How to cope with problems which are not
  expected
• initially?
• etc.
• etc.
• Continuous APTs initiatives and kind
  assistance, including the capacity building, are
  very much anticipated.

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• TASHI DELEK !!
• THANK YOU !!