Background.

The National Telecommunications Network interconnects all twenty Dzongkhags and the major towns of the country. During the 8^th Five year Plan the Department of Telecommunications was to have been able to provide telecommunications services to all gewogs in the country. However due to lack of funds it was not possible to accomplish this noble objective. The Department of Telecommunications has been transformed into a wholly government owned corporation on the 1^st July 2000. Even as a Corporation, BT is still responsible for the provision services to all the gewogs in the country. The Division of Information Technology on the other hand is responsible for the promotion of IT. BT will be providing access and DIT needs the access provided by BT for the promotion of IT. Using modern technological developments such as IP based networking, it should be possible to meet the access needs of BT and the DIT.

Rural Telecom Plan. (Rural Access Plan for Telecommunications)

Bhutan Telecom has already prepared a Master Plan for the provision of access to services for the rural areas of the country. In the plan it is recommended that the DRMASS technology be employed for the provision of rural services based on the fact that BT already has several DRMASS base stations in country and has the skills to install and maintain the systems without external assistance. At the time the plan was prepared, this was the most realistic situation. Recently BT has been informed that the manufacture of DRMASS equipment will stop after some time as there is no market for this type of system.

As the situation has changed it has become necessary for BT to change its rural telecom plan. BT is studying the possibility of employing IP based networking technology in the construction of the rural network. This is a fairly new technology and BT does not have the experience to be able to confidently promote the use of this technology. Theoretically this appears to be the solution that BT has been waiting for. It is IP based, it is cost effective, it requires less power and it can be used for voice as well as data.

The DIT has also prepared a draft IT Master Plan for the country. The development and promotion of IT in the country must go hand in hand with the provision of access. The DIT has correctly concentrated on IT only and has not discussed the problems associated with providing access. This has been left as the scope of work of BT by simply stating that the national telecommunications network is good and so emphasis should be placed on only building computer networks. This may create serious problems later as there may be no access where needed. IP based networks may be able to provide the solutions that both BT and the DIT needs for fulfilling their respective obligations. Therefore it seems most appropriate that, at this stage in the development and introduction of IP based networks in the country, the two agencies trying to promote information and communications technologies should work on a joint pilot project to evaluate how appropriate this technology is for meeting the ICT requirements of the country.

The access requirements of BT and the DIT are quite different as BT needs voice as a first priority whereas the DIT needs data communications capabilities. IP technology is theoretically capable of meeting the requirements for voice as well data. However, in order to actually evaluate the performance of this technology and to be able to confidently employ this technology for the construction of the entire rural access networks BT and the DIT must implement a pilot project.

1) The Pilot Project.

BT, as mentioned earlier is responsible for the provision of telecommunications services in the country and the DIT is responsible for the promotion of IT in the country. BT must meet the UAO (Universal Access Obligation), which in the case of Bhutan has been equated to the provision of rural services. 79% of the population live in the rural areas of the country but telecommunications services have not been extended to the rural areas due to the lack of funds. This delay in fact may have been god sent as recent technological developments may offer a much more cost effective alternative for the provision of rural access. The DIT needs access to the Global Information Infrastructure for the effective promotion of IT in the country and BT has to provide access to the people of the country. This is a unique opportunity for BT and the DIT to work together to ensure that access is provided to meet the requirements of both the organizations.

This Pilot Project is to be implemented as a joint project of the DIT and BT. It will provide the opportunity for the staff of DIT and BT to work together.

1.1) Objectives

BT and the DIT would like to implement pilot projects using IP technology to definitively ascertain the followings:-

a) The suitability of the technology for the provision of rural access.
b) Can the equipment meet the requirements of BT as well as the DIT.
c) Reliability of the equipment available.
d) Power consumption and reliability of the power supplies as Solar power supplies will have to be employed at most sites.
e) System flexibility and capacities.
f) Installation and testing methods. Ease of installation and testing.
g) Reaction of people using this system as compared to using the traditional systems.
h) Any other observations.

1.2)Site Selection.

Selection of the sites for the implementation of the Pilot Projects are based on the following criteria:

a) Must be considered a rural area with no telecommunications services available.
b) Must have over 10 potential customers.
c) Preferable to have mains commercial power supplies but at least one site without mains commercial power supplies is required.
d) Must have the potential to benefit as many people as possible. Population density should be high even though there are only 10 potential customers.
e) If there is a school, health facility, agriculture facility and also a Gups office, preference should be given to such locations.
f) To provide as much information as possible within the shortest period of time several sites, at least four sites, should be chosen.
g) Geographical spread to cater to different climatic conditions.
h) Primary objective should not be to provide access to existing wait listed customers.

1.3) Project Duration.

Telecom and computer technologies are changing rapidly and so the Pilot Project cannot be implemented over an extended time frame. After funds are made available the equipment should be procured and installed as soon as possible, and the other related studies should be done over a period of three months. Data collected from the four sites should be compiled and a consolidated report should be prepared. The report should be submitted to the Government, funding agencies for the Pilot Projects and circulated to  BT, DIT and BTA management/engineers.
 

2) Project Sites.

The sites chosen for the implementation of the Pilot project are the followings:

1) Gaylegphug. Basically for providing access to the outlying areas.
2) Tingtibi.  Big school, hospital , small town and is the gateway to lower Kheng.
3) Limukha. School nearby, several villages within a few Km of this site, and has line sight to Tobesa, Wanakha ans several other villages.
4) Paro. School, big human settlement area and also on the national highway between Thimphu and Paro. (Ed. Note this site was recentlly changed from Chapchha to Paro and the site characteristics have not been updated yet.)

3) Conditions of the Sites.

The exact location of the sites and existing conditions of the sites chosen for the pilot project are given in Annex I, a-d. Basically an attempt has been made to select the sites to present different geographic and climatic conditions as specified in 1.2 above.

Gaylegphug,(on the border with India) was chosen as this area is prone to heavy lightning and torrential rains.  The effects of rain on the packet radios needs to be ascertained.

Tingtibi, is approximately halfway between the North and South of the country. Fairly remote areas, even though the Gaylegphug-Tongsa highway runs close to this location. Very hot in the summer, with high humidity and fair amount of lightning. This will be a good test as at least two radio hops will be required from Shemgang to Tingtibi.

Limukha is in the middle of Wangdi and Punakha Dzongkhags. Winters are very dry and even during the summer there is not much rain. Good line of site to several villages, BHUs and schools. An ideal radio site. Should extend as many access points as possible from this location to study congestion problems.

Chapchha is a fairly large human settlement area on the Thimphu-Phuntsholing National Highway. There is a school and other Government establishments as well.
 

4) Technical Plan.

Services will be extended to the site from the nearest existing telecommunications exchanges. The network configuration and the equipment requirements are discussed below:
 

a) Network Configuration. One network configuration for each site to be attached as Annex II, a-d.
b) Equipment List. One list for each site to attached as Annex III, a-d.
c) Costs including equipment, power supplies, installation materials, manpower, transportation, installation and operation for duration of the project as a pilot project. Cost will be calculated for each site so that different donors may extend assistance for different sites.

5) Implementation Plan and schedule.

The implementation of this pilot project is to be done jointly by Engineers from the DIT and BT. Implementation must be done efficiently within the shortest period of time. The installation of the equipment may need to be done during the monsoon which could cause some difficulties. The installation teams should have at least two persons from the DIT and two from BT. The detailed composition of the teams shall be left to be worked out between the DIT and BT.

The schedule is important for BT and the DIT to obtain maximum benefit from the Pilot Project. If at all possible the schedule given below is suggested. A detailed schedule will be prepared after the meeting to be held on the 30^th April.

  Very tentative schedule. Just to give an idea.

1) Preparation of Pro Doc.            20^th April 2001(Start)
2) Research Equipment required.   23^rd April 2001(Start)
3) Compile Equipment list.             30^th April 2001
4) Complete Pro Doc.                             15^th May 2001.
5) Submission of Pro Doc                         17^th May 2001.
6) Look for Funds.                                    21^st May 2001..
7) Procure Equipment                                 after funds become available.
8) Start Installation                                    After equipment reaches site.
9) Testing and cut over                                After installation of equipment.
10) Observation Period         ..                     observe for three months after cutover
11) Evaluation report.                                       To be completed four months after cutover

6) Evaluation.

The evaluation report must be compiled and presented no later than four months after the cutover date.

7) General Comments.

Telecommunications Networks provide access to the users of the Internet and the transport required for most global data networks. In our context there are only three organizations involved with the provision of ICT services. The DIT is basically responsible for the development of IT in the country, BT is responsible for providing telecom services and the BTA is responsible for regulating the telecom services. It is important for the DIT and BT to work closely so that BT can be encouraged to meet the access requirements of the DIT. This Pilot Project is to be a joint project of the DIT and BT. Successful implementation of this should encourage future co-operation between the DIT and BT.

For BT, successful implementation of this Pilot Project will mean that IP based networks can be introduced and the rural network can be constructed using this technology. For the DIT, successful implementation of this Pilot Project will provide an alternative method to providing access and also reduce the dependence of the DIT on BT for providing access. As a starter it may also be possible to provide at least one PC and a connection to the Internet for some of the schools that can be connected during this Pilot Project. In particular for the schools where mains commercials power supplies are available.
 
 

ANNEX I-a.

1) Site Name: Gaylegphug, Sarbhang Dzongkhag.

    a) Co-ordinates.
Lat: 26deg 52'08''       Log: 90deg 29'25''      Altitude: 207m

b) Mains Commercial power : Available, but may not be reliable.

c) Number of Potential customers.  XX

d) Other Public Service Facilities.
The objective is to provide access to the rural areas close to Gaylegphug town. In the monsoon it is most difficult to travel and there are no other forms of communications. There are other services such as BHUs, primary schools and extension workers in these areas.

e) Estimate of indirect beneficiaries.
There are over 500 people who would benefit from having access.

f) Nearest existing Telecom facility.

Gaylegphug Exchange. During the winter when the rivers can be crossed it would take approximately 1-2 hours to walk to town. During the monsoon it becomes impossible to travel to town. It may take over a day of walking to reach Gaylegphug town.

g) Travel time from Thimphu:
Approximately 8 hours drive. This is the travel time if the road conditions are satisfactory.
 
 

ANNEX I- b


2) Site Name : Tingtibi, Shemgang Dzongkhag.

    a) Co-ordinates.
Lat:                     Lon:                 Altitude:

    b) Mains Commercial Power : Available, but may not be reliable.

    c) Number of Potential Customers: XXXX

    d) Other Public Service Facilities.

Tingtibi is located on the bank of the Mangdi Chhu. There is a school,  Hospital and other Government service facilities. It is also the undeclared gateway to lower Kheng area of the Dzongkhag.

ANNEX I-c

ANNEX I-d



1) Site Name: Chapchha, Chhukha Dzongkhag. (Ed. Note Now Paro, need to update  characteristics)

    a) Co-ordinates.

Lat:  27 deg 11'41''   Lon: 89 deg 31' 49''      Altitude: 2670 m.

    b) Mains Commercial Power: Not Available.


    c) Number of Potential Customers. XXXX

    d) Other Public Service Fcailities.

There is one school, BHU and other government service facilities. There is also a road maintenance organization.

    e) Estimate of indirect beneficiaries.

Chapchha is a fairly big human settlement area. There would be a minimum of 500 people who would benefit from having access.

    f) Nearest Existing Telecom Facility.

Chimakoti Exchange. It will be possible to drive to Chimakoti in one hour from Chapchha.

    g) Travel Time from Thimphu.

Chapchha can be reached in 2.5 hours from Thimphu.

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