| Popis: |
In Bangladesh, as in many other countries of the developing world, the role of telecommunications in economic development does not seem to be duly appreciated. The telecommunications sector has received scant attention from policy makers, and the country has witnessed only a slow expansion of its network over the years. The country’s present infrastructure is considered to be inadequate in scope, technology and quality of services. A report produced jointly by the World Bank and the Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS) presented the limitations of the telecommunications services in Bangladesh (World Bank and BCAS, 1998): The telephone density of 0.26 lines per 100 people is one of the world’s lowest (India: 1.0, Nepal: 0.5, Pakistan: 2.1, Sri Lanka: 1.0, Thailand: 2.5). The waiting time for a connection is more than 10 years. The installation charge of US $ 450 for a new line is one of the highest in the world (e.g., Pakistan US $ 90, India US $ 60). The charge for calling the United Kingdom, US $ 1.50/minute, is about six times higher than the charge for calling Bangladesh from the UK. On average, only 2 of 10 calls are successfully completed. The complaint rate averages 50 complaints per 100 lines per year, clearly indicating the poor quality of services. |
