Experts at a seminar Saturday said internet for all means not only enabling access through networks and devices but also offering content that is relevant and useful to mass market consumers.
Getting Bangladesh's budding entrepreneurs and vast rural population online, will be a shot in the arm for the economy, they said and stressed on the need for trouble-free and easy internet connection for all with new, innovative and useful contents to empower people.
Experts came up with the view at a views exchange meeting organised by the country's leading telecom company Grameenphone in a city hotel.
They said mobile connectivity has brought mobile phones, and with them individual freedom and greater livelihood opportunities, into the hands of millions of people from every walk of life.
"Greater connectivity means accelerated GDP growth and new business creation, and the mobile industry has already spurred the establishment of a strong ICT sector in Bangladesh."
The speakers said, "As data connectivity goes mobile people, business and society stand to benefit. With last year's spectrum auction and ongoing roll-out of nationwide 3G services, networks are being put in place to offer the speed and quality needed for mobile internet in every corner of Bangladesh."
The said cheaper and smarter devices enable mass market consumers to get their hands on apps, games and browsers. As a result, urban Bangladesh is among the fastest growing user groups on social media, like Facebook, today.
They said still, 50 per cent of the people of Bangladesh do not have a mobile connection. And only 30 per cent of the total subscriber base uses mobile internet.
"We are investing billions into building networks, but many of those who stand to gain the most are not aware of what they are missing. Getting Bangladesh's budding entrepreneurs and vast rural population online, and enabling them to take advantage of education, healthcare, financial and e-government services, will be a shot in the arm for the economy and a life-changing endeavor for almost 80 million people," they said.
Wikimedia Bangladesh president Munir Hasan, Head of Business Development India SE of Twitter Arvinder Gujral, Enterprise Director of Microsoft Mohammed Asif, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) president Shameem Ahsan, Facebook representative Anna Nygren, Grameenphone chief executive officer (CEO) Vivek Sood, Telenor Group Senior Vice President Håkon Bruaset Kjøl, CEO of Accenture Bangladesh Raihan Shamsi, Symphony Chairman Mostafa Aminur Rashid, DELL Bangladesh CEO Sonia Bashir Kabir, Opera representative Ahteram Uddin, Director of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries Nesar Maksud Khan, CEO of Ethics Advanced Technology Limited MA Mobin Khan were present at exchange meeting.
GP CEO Vivek Sood said, "People do not know what other uses of internet in mobile phones are. We need more content developers to create new contents for the consumers and let them feel usefulness of internet on mobile phones."
He emphasised on awareness so that people use internet more effectively on mobile phones.
Raihan Shamsi of GP IT said effectively internet users in Bangladesh are 3 to 4 per cent though overall internet users are 10 per cent.
Shameem Ahsan said the year 2014 would be the year of internet revolution. Government has taken elaborate plan to include 10 million new internet users each year, he said.
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Quelle/Source: The Financial Express Bangladesh, 09.03.2014
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