BHUTAN

"There are no regulations in Bhutan on the use of either the 2.4 GHz band or of IP telephony and Bhutan Telecom has no exclusive monopoly rights to operate its Internet service, Druknet..." ---"Bhutan Case Study" in "Question 19/1: Report on the implementation of IP telephony in developing countries," ITU-D Study Group 1, 3rd Study Period (2002-2006), May 2005.
"Wireless Technology to be used in rural Bhutan" kuenselonline.com, 23 August 2005 (via the Government of Bhutan's Department of IT website): "Wireless fidelity (WiFi) or wireless technology was the most promising alternative to provide communication services to remote parts of the country that cannot be reached by the existing telecommunication infrastructure say officials of the department of information technology. The department has received a US $350,000 grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to pilot and demonstrate the viability and robustness of WiFi for offering various information services... Only two communities at the end of the consultation will be picked out for piloting the technology... The project which started in July 2005 expires by July 2007."
"Bhutan: A Case Study on the Use of Wi-Fi and VoIP for Rural Communications," by Tensin C. Tobgyl, ITU Summer University Programme, Geneva, July 2003: "too many license fees" was noted as an implementation problem.
"Bhutan: Migration to New Technologies (Wireless VoIP): Mission Report" by Clif Cox, International Telecommunication Union, 3 December 2003.
English-language draft of the Bhutan Information, Communications and Media Act 2005 (131 pages). Use of radio requires a license, but provision is made for exceptions and for class licenses.
Bhutan E-Readiness Assessment: Final Report Division of Information Technologies, Ministry of Communication (30 June 2003, 101 pages in English).

Asia & Pacific - Regional Overview

Country Links

BHUTAN