Technology Overview

Bangladesh's internet users are now allowed to talk through VoIP (voice over internet protocol) technology within the country, as 18 local companies yesterday launched IP (internet protocol) telephony services.

The existing users, connected by local internet service providers (ISPs), will get the chance to transfer and receive voice calls through IP telephony.

Besides getting data services, the internet users will enjoy video calls, call forwarding and audio-video conferencing.

Internet protocol telephony service providers (IPTSPs) initially target corporate customers, as intra-office communication cost will come down.

Presently, more than five lakh internet users are connected through local ISPs, while mobile operators claim that more than 40 lakh people are connected via mobile internet. Bangladesh's internet penetration rate is four percent.

ISP internet users can start voice calls by just installing PC2 dialler software into their computers. With headphones, they can talk through landline and mobile phone. The internet users can also transfer voice through USB phone.

The users who have traditional phone sets with an internet connection can switch to IP telephone by installing an analogue telephony adaptor.

SIP (session initiative protocol)-enabled handset users can get the benefits of IP telephony in the Wi-Fi areas.

However, users can talk to people living abroad through IP phone, but overseas calls through VoIP are still restricted.

The IP telephony operators offer free installation of PC2 software to the customers. Presently USB phones are available at Tk 1,000 in the local market. IP telephone sets cost Tk 3,000 to Tk 30,000, while the analogue adaptor price ranges from Tk 2,000 to Tk 6,000.

IPTSPs will charge a maximum of Tk 0.20 a minute for IPTSP-IPTSP calls and a maximum of Tk 2 for a call from IPTSP to any mobile or landline operator, in line with a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) directive.

As per the decision of IPTSPs, customers will have to pay Tk 100 as connection fee per month for unlimited IPTSP-IPTSP calls.

However, the minimum airtime charge for calls from IPTSP to any mobile or landline operator will not be below Tk 0.65 a minute.

The 18 operators are Advanced Data Networks System Ltd, Agni Systems Ltd, BDCom Online Ltd, Beximco, BracNet, BTS Communication Ltd, Connect BD Ltd, Dhakacom Ltd, Grameen Cybernet Ltd, Global Access Ltd, HRC Technologies Ltd, Information Services Network Ltd, Innovative Online Ltd, Link3 Technologies Ltd, Metronet BD Ltd, Optimax Communication Ltd, Royal Green Online Ltd and Telnet Communication Ltd.

The companies have developed required software locally to run the business.

Yeafesh Osman, state minister for science and ICT, yesterday inaugurated the IP telephony service at a programme organised by Internet Service Providers' Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

IP telephony could be the cheapest means of communication for the educational institutes, said Nazrul Islam Khan, national project director of Access to Information Programme of the Prime Minister's Office.

He said: "The service can be tagged with government plans to bring all educational institutes under internet service."

Zia Ahmed, chairman of BTRC, and Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of ISPAB, also spoke.