Looks like I was wrong about broadband in town in November last year. But it is looking like it is going to happen soon according to this Druknet announcement. Broadband is a big deal just as this press release is making it to be, and I am very happy it is finally coming:
Bhutan Telecom increases International Internet Bandwidth through Optical Fiber cable.
In the historic year of 2008 when Bhutan celebrates 100 years of peaceful life under the glorious Wangchuk dynasty and ushers in constitutional monarchy with democratically elected government, Bhutan Telecom is honored to announce, the first ever international access using optical fiber cable. The commissioning of this International Fiber link extending from Phuentsholing to London via Mumbai is as momentous an occasion as having our first international telecommunication link through satellite system in the early 1990s.
Having access to the International optical fiber link is equivalent to Bhutan having access to a sea port and opens a wide range of opportunities in the ICT sector. Without this link, planning any ICT based activities in the country would have been meaningless. BTL has also become a member of LINX (London Internet Exchange) which is one of the largest Internet Exchange Points in Europe. To start with, BTL has a DS-3 (45 Mbps) link to LINX. We propose to expand the link capacity to 2 DS-3 or 90 Mbps in the near future. At LINX, BTL has established a PoP (Point of Presence) and we are peering with several Internet Service Providers. BTL is also availing IP Transit Services from the TIER 1 ISPs.
In addition to the bandwidth on fiber BTL has about 30 Mbps of Satellite bandwidth. Considering that the number of Internet users in the country would be about 20,000-25,000, we are confident that the speed of connection to the Internet will be satisfactory. The bit rate per inhabitant in the country will be around 188 bits per person and the bit rate per internet user will be around 4.9 to 6.1 Kbps.
This has been made possible by Bhutan Telecom working closely with Reliance and FLAG (Fiber Link around the Globe) for access to the submarine fiber cable via Mumbai. BTL would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Narinder Sharma, Advisor International Projects, of Reliance, for his support and encouragement during the implementation of the project.
With the international bandwidth expansion completed, Bhutan Telecom will be launching DSL based broadband services in 6 locations (Proper Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Paro, Wangdue, Trongsa and Kanglung) very soon.
Finally BTL would like to inform all our valued customers that having access to the Internet over the global fiber network is of the utmost importance to the whole country. We talk of promoting IT Parks, Call Centers and other IT related industries in our country as possible providers of employment to our youth. BTL would like to inform all the planners and implementers of ICT projects in the country that without access to the Global fiber networks it will not be possible for any ICT projects to succeed.
BTL is happy to be able to provide fiber based international bandwidth to our valued customers.
