GP, BASIS join forces to spread internet

Telecom service provider Grameenphone and the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) have agreed on a partnership to promote internet for all in Bangladesh.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to the effect at the Digital World Expo at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre on Wednesday in the presence of IT Minister Abdul Latif Siddique.

“Internet is a critical platform for economic and social development, and we strongly support the government’s vision of a digital Bangladesh,” Grameenphone CEO Vivek Sood said.

“Grameenphone’s ambition is to provide internet for all and through our joint initiative with BASIS we seek to create awareness about the many benefits of using Internet, as well as inspire development of new content and services,” he further said.

“BASIS has the strategic vision of ‘One-Bangladesh’, which is very similar to Grameenphone’s ambition of ‘Internet for All’. So, through this partnership, GP and BASIS will work on achieving that common goal,” BASIS President Shamim Ahsan said.

Based on a shared notion to increase the internet uptake and promote creation of new content in Bangladesh, GP and Basis will work together to:

• Establish an annual Internet Education Day in Bangladesh for all students and their parents,

• Support development and distribution of internet based applications with a capacity to reach more than 1 million active users, and,

• Increase the number of Internet users in Bangladesh by 10 million annually from 2014-2018.

BASIS plans to take lead on arranging a number of events featuring key actors to Internet development, such as the government, policymakers, industry and entrepreneurs. BASIS will design a 12-month long activity roadmap commencing from the date of signing the MoU to fulfil the goals.