Bangladesh Priorities: Broadband, Zaman

The research by M. Rokonuzzaman, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the North South University in Dhaka, looks at expanding broadband access.

High-speed internet penetration in Bangladesh is extremely low, with less than two subscriptions to wired broadband for every 100 people.  Most citizens have internet access only through slow mobile connections. Costs of expanding broadband access would be quite high, especially in rural areas, but the benefits could include creating new job opportunities, improving formal and informal education, and allowing farmers to access better agricultural knowledge. The analysis estimates that the benefits from helping Bangladesh modernize with expanded broadband access would be five times the costs of investment.