Broadband service providers want internet and connection work in primary schools

 

Broadband Internet service providers say they have "no chance" of participating in a program to provide Internet connectivity to 41,000 primary schools across the country.

Under the Fourth Primary Education Development Program (PEDP 4), internet connection activities are being implemented in these schools. Where Grameenphone has already received this job through tender, the operator has also been given the first stage work order.

Immediately after the call for tenders, ISPAB, an organization of broadband internet service providers, objected to some of the conditions of the tender and sent a letter to the concerned departments to amend it.

ISPAB President Md Emdadul Hoque told NatunNews Monitor.com that only mobile phone operators are eligible to participate in the tender. They also demanded that mobile operators, as well as broadband internet service providers, be allowed to participate in the tender by amending these conditions.

‘We sent a letter to the Department of  Primary Education shortly after the tender was called. Copies of which were also given to the Department of Posts and Telecommunications, Department of Information Technology, and BTRC. We hoped that tenders would be called again on the revised terms and broadband service providers would be able to participate, ”he said.

"But recently I saw that the tender has been completed and the work order has been issued," he said. But 20 GB of data in a school will end in 5 days. Where broadband internet service providers could provide unlimited data. 'On the other hand, those involved in the project say that the ability to provide an internet connection to this huge number of schools as per the demand at such a fast time is being made possible by the mobile operators with the highest 4G coverage.

ISPAB has taken initiative to discuss the issue at the responsible level of the concerned departments soon.

‘Planning Minister M. A. ."We will talk to him in a day or two," said the ISPAB president.

Imdadul Haque said, "If necessary, we will hold a press conference on the organizational decision. We can also go to various programs."

The Department of Primary Education called for open tenders in November 2021 to provide an internet connection to 41,000 government primary schools.

After verification and selection in the tender, Grameenphone was instructed to provide an internet connection through a WiFi system in 39,701 schools in 61 districts.

In the first phase, the department asked Grameenphone to provide a WiFi system and SIM in the district education primary education office to connect 1000 schools.

In March, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain inaugurated internet connectivity through WiFi in primary schools.

On April 3 The Department of Elementary Education instructs all District Primary Education Officers to distribute Grameenphone to government primary schools by the WiFi system and SIM list provided.

However, out of 41 thousand primary schools of  PEDP 4, 1299 government primary schools in Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban districts have not submitted any tender and it is awaiting re-tender.

In this program, Grameenphone will provide a 5 Mbps speed connection to each school, where data capping is 20 Gbps. There are 6830 schools in the Dhaka division, 5944 in the Chittagong division, 5110 in Khulna, 3908 in Barisal, 5415 in Rajshahi, 5967 in Rangpur, 3160 in Sylhet, and 3367 in Mymensingh. Broadband Internet service providers objected to several terms of the tender after the Internet service provider called for tenders for the implementation of PEDP-4. Their organization ISPAB sent a letter to the Department of Elementary Education. They also informed the Department of Telecommunications, Department of Information Technology, and BTRC about this.

The title of Section-7 of the tender documents stated ‘Technical Specification of Mobile Internet Service for Government Primary Schools’. Here ISPAB's proposal was to make 'Technical Specification of Internet Service for Government Primary Schools'.

The heading was 'SIM card', where it was suggested to have 'SIM card or internet connection carrier ‘Cellular mobile phone service operator licensed by BTRC’. Here, ISPAB refers to ‘BTRC licensed cellular mobile phone service operators and nationwide internet service providers.

The technology called for '4G or higher, while the amendment proposed '4G or fixed broadband'.

In-network coverage, 700 in Barisal, 25800 in Chittagong, 3500 in Dhaka, 1400 in Khulna thus 4G coverage towers or BTS are specified in each section. There ISPAB seeks amendments to ensure nationwide coverage by ensuring quality of service as per departmental 4G or ISP BTRC guidelines.

The tender said that 20 GB of data should be provided at 5 Mbps per school per month for one year. There was an ISPAB revision proposal for 20 Mbps data or 5 Mbps fixed broadband connection at 5 Mbps per school per month.

In addition, the organization proposed to amend some other issues so that they can participate in the tender.