The Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) signed the Programme Implementation Agreement (PIA) for the Rural Communications Programme (RCP) Phase VI with the Bhutan Telecom Limited and the Tashi InfoComm Private Limited on 19th March 2021.
Usually, rural areas in any country since being sparsely covered are not considered as a viable business case by mobile operators and concentrating the telecommunication infrastructure in the dense urban areas has led to widening the digital gap between rural and urban areas. The key challenges for the provisioning of telecommunication services in rural areas are driven by both technological, geographical, economic and business considerations. The RCP programme contributes to the goal of digital inclusion by providing support and assistance to the mobile operators for the development of connectivity in rural and remote areas.
Therefore, the programme is aimed at achieving the “Universal Connectivity” of communications services in the country by providing access to telecommunications infrastructure and services in rural and remote areas which are devoid of communication services.
Through this RCP VI programme, sixty six (66) number of villages (which are without access to telecommunication services) will be connected with basic 2G and 4G LTE communication services and the duration of project is eighteen (18) months from the date of signing the PIA.
