Saturday, January 11, 2014

Use of internet in Bangladesh

Use of internet in Bangladesh
Introduction:
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite  to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries an extensive range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to support email.
Although it could do much more, still availability of online Internet service is making significant positive changes in the country. The benefits for business communications, both with respect to cost savings and speed, are noteworthy. Families with members staying abroad are welcoming the Internet for frequent and cheaper communication. Researchers are getting valuable information quickly at modest cost, which was not possible before. A multinational company source stated that the company's monthly e-mail bill has been reduced to less than US $275 from US $2,500 after the transformation of the Internet access system from international dialing to VSAT(very small aperture terminal). The company would never consider such communications over faxes or phones. Other business houses and entertainment stars are gradually coming to accept the Internet as their ultimate communication tool. The ISPs are carrying out special promotional activities to provide Web page services.
A new social class is being created, mainly amongst the young generation who find the Internet an effective tool for their career development and the globalization of their thoughts and creativity. Many Internet users have stated that a whole new world has been opened to them, they are getting a new source of knowledge, and they are also making relations with many good friends and organizations worldwide. But some say that going online is a very costly habit, which sometimes appears as an addiction and causes a big waste of time. A group of young people, notably from the affluent section of the society, is abusing the Internet by using it mostly for entertainment, which is certainly not a healthy practice for a poor country like us. But the saddest news is that Bangladesh has yet to set up an academic network to provide Internet access to the large number of university teachers, students, scientists, and researchers who play vital roles in building a better nation.

 

What are the barriers, and what are their solutions?

For Bangladesh, the priority should be to provide Internet access to academic institutions and to the intellectual communities. Having an Internet account is the primary thing, but not all: using the Internet for productive purposes and for real benefits is the main issue. From the above discussions, it is clear that high service charges by the providers, a poor telecommunication system, government policy, and low buying power of potential clients are major barriers.
But a more congenial and rational government policy may improve the whole scenario tremendously. A democratically elected government should not be governed by sacrificing the future of its people for immediate benefits. The current charge of US $8,625 per provider per month can easily be reduced to at least US $1,000. This will encourage more providers and will ensure healthy competition between them, ultimately reducing the online charge and improving service quality. Rapid privatization of the telecommunication sector may remarkably enhance the speed of renovations through open-market competition. A national unity between the ruling party and the opposition is essential on this vital issue in order to resist workers' unrest. Unless more competitors, more investments, and more innovations are encouraged in the field, only government effort will bring proportionate value for money in this sector.
Advantages:
1) Information on almost every subject imaginable.
2) Powerful search engines
3) Ability to do research from your home versus research libraries.
4) Information at various levels of study. Everything from scholarly articles to ones directed at children.
5) Message boards where people can discuss ideas on any topic. Ability to get wide range of opinions. People can find others that have a similar interest in whatever they are interested in.
6) the internet provides the ability of emails. Free mail service to anyone in the country.
7) Platform for products like SKYPE, which allow for holding a video conference with anyone in the world who also has access.
8) Friendships and love connections have been made over the internet by people involved in love/passion over similar interests.
9) Things such as Yahoo Answers and other sites where kids can have readily available help for homework.
10) News, of all kinds is available almost instantaneously. Commentary, on that news, from every conceivable viewpoint is also available.

Disadvantages:
1) There is a lot of wrong information on the internet. Anyone can post anything, and much of it is garbage.
2) There are predators that hang out on the internet waiting to get unsuspecting people in dangerous situations.
3) Some people are getting addicted to the internet and thus causing problems with their interactions of friends and loved ones.
4) Pornography that can get in the hands of young children too easily.
5) Easy to waste a lot of time on the internet. You can start surfing, and then realize far more time has passed than you realized. Internet and television together of added to the more sedentary lifestyles of people which further exacerbates the obesity problem.
6) Internet has a lot of "cheater" sites. People can buy essays and pass them off as their own far more easily than they used to be able to do.
7) There are a lot of unscrupulous businesses that have sprung up on the internet to take advantage of people.
8) Hackers can create viruses that can get into your personal computer and ruin valuable data.
9) Hackers can use the internet for identity theft.
10) It can be quite depressing to be on the internet and realize just how uneducated so many people have become in today's society.

Mobile operators

Because fixed line penetration rates are and are expected to remain low, most Bangladeshis' first experience with the Internet is likely to be via mobile services. An estimated 90% of Bangladesh's Internet users got their access using mobile services in 2010. Out of the six mobile operators, one of them Teletalk offers 3G services, others offer EDGE or GPRS GSM Internet service. The sole CDMA operator, Citycell, offers EVDO.
Broadband
Broadband Internet and e-commerce in Bangladesh is slowly progressing. In 2009 there were 50,000 fixed broadband Internet subscribers. Though broadband Internet access is available, the charges for high speed connections are higher than in other south Asian countries, though this is changing. In Bangladesh Broadband is legally defined as 128/128 kbit/s, which is not in line with the ITU's definition and many broadband Internet services may not be considered true broadband internationally.

WiMAX

Three companies, BanglaLion Communications Ltd., Brac Bdmail Network Ltd., and Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh Ltd., won licenses to operate WiMAX in Bangladesh in September 2008. The three firms purchased the licenses at auction for 2.15 billion BDT (31 million USD) from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission under an agreement that pays 27.50% of revenue to the government. Brac Bdmail declined to start the service. BanglaLion and Augere (branded as Qubee) launched commercial WiMax services by the end of 2009.
From October 2011 Access Telecom (BD) Ltd. and Tackyon started giving fixed WiMax services to their clients.
Conclusion:

In Bangladesh effects of the internet cut across all social spheres, influencing individuals and society on personal structural, and global levels. The recognition that the interface between Internet technology and society is a complex and multifarious boundary. Navigating this boundary requires observation from diverse perspectives, as well as the willingness to conduct continuing research and to implement complex and flexible social responses based on this research.

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