Internet and Mobile Users in Bangladesh: Statistics 2008

Since 2000 Internet and mobile phone users started increasing rapidly in Bangladesh, opening the scope of effective e-learning and m-learning in Bangladesh.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recent report about the Internet usage and population statistics [1] is shown in Table 1. ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies. As the global focal point for governments and the private sector, ITU’s role in helping the world communicate spans 3 core sectors: radio communication, standardization and development.

Table 1. Internet Usage and Population Statistics

YEAR	Users	Population	% Pen.	Usage Source
2000	100,000	134,824,000	0.1 %	ITU
2007	450,000	137,493,990	0.3 %	ITU

While computer and Internet is costlier and satisfies less basic requirements of communication, mobile phone being cheaper and capable of satisfying more communication requirements could penetrate greater and is spreading in a faster rate. An online article [2] of Reuter (Thu May 15, 2008) came out on the topic “Cellphone users in Bangladesh on the rise.” This news reported, “Bangladesh’s six mobile phone operators added 1.41 million new subscribers in April, lifting the user base to 40.34 million, the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission data showed on Thursday. The number of mobile users rose nearly 58 percent in 2007 to 34.4 million, the telecoms regulator said, helped by competitive tariffs and cheap handsets. Several market surveys have forecast the number of mobile phone users will be around 70 million at the end of 2011. ”

E-Learning & M-Learning in Bangladesh: Hopeless state to Dreamworld!

Access to computer, mobile and electronic devices has increased drastically during 2000-2008, irrespective of Bangladesh Government’s poor decisions regarding Information Technology issues. Such a change came not because of the increase in income, rather the decrease in cost of these devices. While the vast majority of the world has easy and cheaper access to Information Technology devices and services, Bangladesh has yet remained nearly 10 years backward (my own viewpoint). When Prof. Dr. Mohammad A. Karim ( the inventor of fastest train on earth), a Bangladeshi, (Vice-President of Research, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va, USA), delivered his speech in 2006 at the 10th Convocation of Independent University, Bangladesh, stated that “Technology obsolescence period is now one and half years,” I realized how backward we are getting day-by-day.

The technologically advanced world is enjoying faster and cheaper Internet connection and we are claiming 4 KB/s is a “broadband” connection! By the time we can send an email, they can download an entire book and finish reading half of it.

In a third world country, with IT ignorant, slow, selfish and heartless government, I left hope of getting something good for this country as long as government support is concerned. Many NGOs came into being and getting handsome amount of donations and showed better achievements.

Scholars like Dr. A. Karim, Dr. Badrul Khan and many other scholars of our country are going abroad and giving their time and merit to the best institutions in the world. Why are they not here? There is a saying, “If child does not cry, mother even does not feed him milk.” We (as a country) did not and still do not know how to ask for our own requirements. E-learning framework provided by Dr. Badrul Khan will surely teach us the way. Question is How?

Using E-learning, it is now possible that instructors from USA, Canada, Australia, Japan etc. and students from all over Bangladesh can study in the same virtual classroom. Color, status, race etc. nothing can be a boundary here. While Government seem to be a problem in Bangladesh, there are countries in the world who provide genuine certificates based on true evaluation. In this case we need some examination centers equipped with computers, Internet access and power backup. Easy way would be getting some laptops, Wireless internet connections which do not require power supply and classes will go on!

Now the question is, how do our rural, more distant and truly needy people will get the required education. D.Net has already established some telecenters in Bangladesh, through which they are providing information and presentations using multimedia projection. People learn various aspects of agriculture, farming, business, school, college, universities and even technology training. E-learning and M-learning approaches can be put on effect here.

Presently, some scholars from different institutions of Bangladesh formed an E-learning society and working the policy, procedures and process documents to formally begin implementation.

In my next writing I shall put a literature review on E-learning and M-learning.