General description of the sector and USF

1. Telecommunication in
Bhutan

2. Overview
Bhutan
Telecom sector in Bhutan
Tashi InfoComm Limited
Bhutan Telecom Limited
ISPs
Universal service fund
References

3. Bhutan
Is a small country with around 750,000
population
With area 38,364 km²
Economy is mainly based on
agriculture
Works for building Telecommunication
network began in late 90s

4. Telecom Sector in Bhutan
In 2003, Bhutan Telecom launched the first mobile communication service in the
country
In 2008, Tashi InfoComm Limited entered the market as a second telecom
operator
There are few licensed ISPs serving internet and hosting facilities

5. Bhutan Telecom

6. ….continued
It is a state owned company which came into existence since 2000
It owns 70% market share
It provides fixed line telephony service, mobile services and internet
services
It provides various services like prepaid, postpaid, B-wallet, Roaming
etc
In addition they also provide various value added services like CRBT,
Missed call alert etc

7. ...contd..

8. Tashi InfoComm Limited- TICL

9. ..continued...
First established in year 2008 as a first private telecommunication company
It owns 30% market share
TICL provides mobile services (both telephony and internet) and internet
services
Similarly they provide prepaid, postpaid, B-wallet, Roaming etc in mobile service
They also provide value added services to customers

10. …continued...
Once TICL came into market,
there was drastic reduction in call cost
Various services like were introduced to attract customers hereby benefitting
mobile users

11. Other ISPs
Besides the two giant Telecom operators, there are few ISPs providing internet
services in the country.
They are Samden Tech, Nano, DrukComm and ABCO
They are leasing bandwidth from giant operators
These ISPs are catering to few customers mostly in urban areas

12. Universal Service Fund
USF is established as per the BICM act of bhutan
The sole purpose of established USF is to compensate any ICT facility or
service provider .
USF is contributed by the licensees who provides ICT service or facility in the
country.
It comprises of license fees and a percent of annual gross revenue from the
operators

13. Thank you

14. References
Bhutan Information,Communications and Media Act, 2006
Bhutan Telecommunications and broadband policy, 2014
http://www.telecom.net.bt/
http://www.tashicell.com/
https://www.google.bt/search?q=tasi+cell&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=ln
ms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDzaCk04POAhULP48KHclUCT8Q_AUIBigB
&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=TICL+BHUTAN&imgrc=YtN-otVHISfpEM%3A