Telecommunications

The telecommunications Division is responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector and developing the National standards related to telecommunications and other ICT equipments.

Key objectives

The primary regulatory objective is the development of an efficient, competitive and increasingly self-regulated telecommunications sector which would meet the needs of the Bhutanese people. Our specific objectives are as follows:

• To facilitate and stimulate the growth of Telecommunications and other ICT sector
• Fostering industry self-regulation in a way to address public and national interest considerations without imposing much financial and administrative burdens on the industry
• Efficient planning, allocation and use of national resources such as telecommunications numbering.

Structure

Activities

• Licensing of telecommunications and other ICT facility and ICT services, including VSAT and Value-added services
• Regulate,to a minimum required extend, all telecommunications and ICT facility and ICT services providers
• Create an appropriate competitive and dynamic Telecommunications and other ICT market in Bhutan
• Ensure universal access of telecommunications and other ICT services at affordable rates to all areas of the country, particularly in the rural and remote areas
• Encourage investment and foster technological innovation in the telecommunications and ICT sector
• Develop and implement interconnection and infrastructure sharing regulation
• Develop technical standards, including ICT apparatus standards and ICT equipment dealership regulation

Present Telecommunications Market Profile

License awarded to provide communications facility and services

• 30^th June, 2000: - Bhutan Telecom Limited was licensed to provide fixed telecommunications (Local, Long Distance and International calls) for five years.
• 1^st July 2000:- DrukNet, a sister company of Bhutan Telecom Limited was licensed to provide Internet services for five years.
• 1^st March, 2001:- SITA was licensed to provide communications related to the airlines industry for a period of three (3) years.
• 12^th July, 2002: – B-Mobile, a sister company of Bhutan Telecom Limited was licensed to provide mobile cellular telecommunication service license for a period of 5 years.
• 1^st January, 2004:- DrukCom Private Limited was licensed to provide wireless broadband services for five (5) years.
• 1^st July, 2004:– SITA was licensed to provide communications services related to the airlines industry for another five (5) years.
• 19^th November, 2004:- Samden Tech was licensed to provide Internet service using VSAT technology for ten (10) years.
• 1^st July, 2005:– Bhutan Telecom Limited licensed expired
• 1^st July, 2005: – Bhutan Telecom Limited was licensed to provide both fixed telecommunications network services and Internet services for ten (10) years.
• 12th April, 2007: – Tashi InfoComm was licensed to provide Cellular Mobile Service for Fifteen (15) years.

Subscriber base-Telecommunications Sector

List of ICT Equipment Dealers in Bhutan please refer the list