Taking mobile services to the much needed rural communities

of Bhutan

1. Background2. Bhutan Telecom…Current State3. Extending mobile service to rural

Bhutan

Outline:

1. Background Bhutan Telecom is the incumbent telecom operator in Bhutan (100% government owned)

Provides 3 line of services: fixed, mobile and Internet

Fixed line subscribers: 25,000 plus

Mobile subscribers: 250,000 plus

Data subscribers:

Mobile Data users: 3G - 2,000, GPRS/EDGE- 48,000

DSL Broadband users – 8,000, leased line – 160

Potential customer base: 650,000

Current State…Network Infrastructure

2. Transmission Network (Domestic) Fiber Optic Network

Very limited in place currently

Existing network is 100% on OPGW except for the last mile/approach to terminating stations

Installed capacity: STM1 – STM4

Microwave Radio Network Microwave SDH Radio on the East-West backbone

Microwave PDH Radio mostly on the access/spur routes

Installed capacity: 2E1 to (2+1) STM1

Current State…Network Infrastructure

2. International connectivity

Fiber Optic – STM1 to LINX, London - STM1to HKIX, Hongkong

Satellite - 10 Mbps with British Telecom, UK

Current State…Fiber Network

Tingtibi

Yurmu

TrongsaWangdue

Punakha

PhuentsholingPasakha

PugliGedu

Tshimasham

Chumdo

Khasa

Simtokha

Thimphu

Khangkhu

Paro

Satsham

Damphu

Fiber with traffic

Fiber not lit

To/from India

Future Plans…National/International Fiber Connectivity

Tingtibi

Yurmu

TrongsaWangdue

Punakha

PhuentsholingPasakha

PugliGedu

Tshimasham

Chumdo

Khasa

Simtokha

Thimphu

K/khu

Paro

Satsham

Damphu

Fiber with trafficFiber not lit

Panbang

Nanglam

Nangkhor

Kanglung

Gelephu

To/from IndiaTo/from India

Future Plans

Dagapela

Haa

Tangmachu

Mobile Service to rural Bhutan

3. GSM mobile service to rural communities

Funding scheme : 50% Universal Service Fund (USF) and 50% Bhutan Telecom fund (USD 6 million)

Total GSM BTS deployed as part of this USF project : 23

Total PDH microwave hops deployed as backhaul for BTS: 25+

Innovating to suit rural conditions

Transportation of materials to rural sites

Innovating to suit rural conditions

Locally designed and fabricated BTS shelters

Innovating to suit rural conditions

Installation of Tower & Solar power

Innovating to suit rural conditions

Installation of outdoor GSM BTS

Innovating to suit rural conditions

Completed BTS site

Rural Customer Base

Typical Rural Community required to be provided mobile service

Challenges

Difficulties faced:

Bhutan has mountainous terrain…very difficult to build backhaul radio links

Rural communities do not have electricity supply…therefore BTS stations and PDH microwave backhaul stations need to be solar powered (Capital intensive)

Rural communities do not have access motor roads… transportation of materials become very difficult. Subsequent maintenance of the network also becomes difficult

Return on capital deployed is minimal

Tashi Delek,

Thank You.