ED: The future is here

It is encouraging to see the government push forward in its vision to digitize and modernize the nation in an attempt to truly realize the dream of a Digital Bangladesh, with the Prime Minister’s Information and Communication Technology Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy stating that Bangladesh will have 5G service by the end of this year.

If 5G connectivity indeed were to be made available within our borders, it would no doubt be indicative of the immense progress Bangladesh has made in terms of bringing in the technology necessary to connect Bangladeshis to each other and to the rest of the world -- in fact, 5G technology remains elusive in most of the developed world as well, with only very select locations within major cities having access.

We are encouraged by this ambitious step towards increasing the quality of internet service provided to the millions of people in Bangladesh who use mobile internet in ways that have completely revolutionized the way our society and economy function, from digital payments to social media.

Technology, when made available, has the power to bring about much-needed equity in society, allowing those less privileged to have access to a wealth of information and services which otherwise they never would have.

Of course, 5G service requires expensive 5G phones, but, we hope that, with increasing economic growth and further investment in necessary infrastructure, it is only a matter of time before 5G connectivity and usage becomes widespread and common.

With 5G technology in the hands of our people, the possibilities are endless.