Riding the crest of continued successful adoption of digital technology, the country has passed yet another year of impressive milestones. If the bygone year of 2017 was any indication, Bangladesh can now indisputably be termed a nation that has joined ICT age in earnest. To speak optimistically, the country's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has taken off impressively, if not amazingly. Compared to the highly developed, and a few fast developing, countries, the achievements of Bangladesh are humble. But they do carry the signs of great prospects. Given the shaky start of the country's digital sector in the early 1980s, Bangladesh in 2017 stepped up to get acclimatised to newer innovations.
Thanks to the government's resolve to place the country among those enjoying the fruits of the digital technology, the average educated people were introduced to a number of breakthroughs and gadgetry in the telecom sector. The country saw the launch of its first ever nano-satellite last June. Alongside, the evidently tech-friendly authorities have helped a local company set up a unit for assembling cell phones. At the same time a cut in import duty by the authorities concerned for components required for making digital equipment came as a great boost to companies intent on assembling mobile phones in the country. Although the launch of the 4th generation (4G) cellular communication has been delayed for some time, the international online payment system of PayPal materialised in the country in October. The digital step is expected to curb the use of illegal channels in sending remittances by Bangladeshi expatriates as it will reduce the earlier lengthy time required for the job.
Although a small leap in the global ICT sector, the country's launch of the nano-satellite called 'Brac Onnesha' has carved a historic place in the annals of its ICT feats. That it has been put into orbit from Kennedy Space Center in the USA adds greatly to the event's significance. The nation, however, awaits with bated breath the launch of its space satellite Bangabandhu-1. Set to emerge as the most splendid of the landmark ICT events in the country's history, the satellite launch has now been deferred to March next. Once in orbit, Bangabandhu-1 will muster the capability to serve the member-nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Indonesia and the Philippines and three central Asian countries. The country's breaking of new grounds in the international domains of ICT hinges on it.
In spite of the drawbacks, the nation's resolve to find itself among the ICT-savvy countries around the world remains in place firmly. It's this unflinching stance which, surely, will take it to its cherished height in the global arena of information and communications technology. Bangladesh cannot afford to remain detached from the fruits of revolutions taking place in the digital world. Against this backdrop of hope and upbeat feelings, few are prepared to see impediments to the national goals. Thus the high cost of broadband internet and its low speed come up as two disincentives. Prompt removal of these small irritants is set to yield big.