Summit, Fiber@Home to get project maintenance work

The government is planning to appoint two private companies under the public-private partnership (PPP) for the maintenance and preservation of ‘Info-Sarker 3’ project, in a bid to ensure faster internet at union level across the country.

A proposal to sign agreements with the company will be placed in the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for in-principal approval today, confirmed an official familiar with the matter.

Under the Info-Sarker 3 project, being implemented at a cost of nearly Tk 2,000 crore, a total of 2,600 unions of the country is currently under broadband coverage.

According to cabinet sources, the CCEA meeting is expected to give in-principal approval for signing agreements with Summit Communication Ltd and Fiber@Home Ltd under PPP.

Under the agreements, the companies will be tasked with ensuring the maintenance, repair, update, replacement, operation and revenue sharing of internet infrastructure with the aim of establishing high-speed Internet connection in 2600 Unions of the country.

According to the draft proposals, Summit Communications will be responsible for 1297 unions and with Fiber@Home for 1,307 Unions.

At present, Summit Communication and Fiber@Home– both Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) licensed companies– are providing free bandwidth across the country under the Info-Sarker 3 project. For the next 20 years, the project maintenance will be done under PPP initiatives.

According to project implementing authorities, the third phase of the Info-Sarker project is being implemented following the success of the first and second phases. On top of providing free internet at union levels, virtual private network (VPN) connections are being provided at different levels of 1,000 offices of Bangladesh Police.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “There will be big changes in freelancing and online education if high-speed internet is available in villages. Besides, through the implementation of this project, the educational institutions will be further developed at the union level, teaching will be easier.

“The necessity for the internet connection at the union level may not become clear immediately. But after five years, people will enjoy the benefits. By 2025, 1.9 lakh organisations will be provided with broadband connection.”