The joint sitting, today, approved the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation to speed up the establishment of a third international internet gateway. The country currently has two international gateways or networks, both coming from India. The government’s effort to connect Bhutan with an alternate internet gateway from Bangladesh has been a topic of discussion since 2015.
Access to internet has become a basic necessity. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the dependency on the internet even more. However, with both the existing gateways passing through India, the Performance Audit Report states that the country could face an internet blackout in times of disaster.
The latest lesson was learnt last year from the Cyclon Amphan. The cyclone left the country without internet connectivity for more than a day. It showed the dire need for a third international internet gateway.
At the Joint Sitting of the Parliament, most members expressed the need for a third international gateway.
“Last year the nation was under internet blackout for two days due to the cyclone Amphan. So, we need an alternate one hereafter so that we don’t face such a problem again” said Gasa’s Member of Parliament, Dorji Khandu. “And it would be great if the government can complete the third internet gateway during the 12th Five Year Plan or during the government’s tenure.”
The government is, however, negotiating on the cost of a third internet gateway with India and Bangladesh.
The Foreign Minister, Dr Tandi Dorji, said the government is unable to make a decision on its own. “It is dependent on the governments of India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh is not a problem because they have offered us the lowest possible pricing. The issue is with Indian private operators, who should be routing internet cable connections via India. Even if we talk to the Indian government, the private operator is not agreeing.”
The Public Accounts Committee also recommended putting in place adequate and latest infrastructure to ensure e-resilience of the country. E-resilience is defined as the ability of the ICT systems to withstand, and recover from external disturbances such as a natural disaster. The MoIC minister said they are setting up internet networks in ring types since it makes it possible to provide network to other areas even when the network in one place is disrupted. The government has so far completed three network rings.
“We are now working on two more rings, one for Dagana, Dagapela and Lhamozingkha. And the other one is in Lhuentse and Bumthang. After completion of all five rings, if one route gets disrupted, we can use the others. It will be convenient and better” said the Information and Communications Minister, Karma Donnen Wangdi.
The Joint sitting also approved the Committee’s recommendations on BICMA to speed up its regulatory role and set up grievance redressal mechanisms and on the MoIC to frame a strategy to ensure the sustainability of fiber resources in rural areas.
The RAA conducted a Performance Audit on the implementation and management of the National Broadband Fiber Network covering the period from June 2008 to June 2018.
Tshering Zam/Pema Seldon Tshering/Sangay Chezom
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
