A Modern Folktale


Written by Huma Iqbal • Region • February 2010

Once wary about allowing the use of Internet in the country, Bhutan is now determined to become an IT exporter. As the world celebrated the end of a decade and entered into a new one, Bhutan made new strides in the information and telecommunications sectors. This Himalayan country, often termed as the Shangri-La, had reveled in self-imposed isolation for centuries. It was only in 1999 that the Bhutanese government, celebrating the silver jubilee of the King's reign, introduced Internet and television in the country.

Why did Bhutan take so long to embrace these basic necessities? King Wangchuck wanted to make sure that when he allowed Internet and TV in the country, it would benefit the people. It was for this reason that it took this society, guided by folklore and underpinned by a unique form of Buddhism, so long to come on to the information highway. After all, Bhutan has often been at pains to keep its culture protected from the rapidly-developing world outside its borders.

At first, the idea was to create an internal web-based Intranet with only e-mail access to the outside world. But Bhutan's push to modernize saw the proposal grow into a full Internet service. Funded by the Royal Government of Bhutan along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP), the whole project was up and running in just three months. When it did come, it came with a bang!

From setting up the first internet café in the capital city of Thimpu to launching an entirely localized Linux distribution based on the national language Dzongkha, the country never looked back. The Information and Communications Ministry of Bhutan recently held the first national Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Conference in Bhutan where the country's 225 ICT professionals were described as the "captains of the voyage to create an informed society." The Information and Communication Minister, Lyonpo Nandalal Rai emphasized that the ministry expects the limited pool of ICT professionals in Bhutan to make not only a big but a positive difference in the lives of the people.

The educational sector has benefited from the internet where e-learning is widely popular across the country. Internet access has made learning fun in an otherwise rote learning trend of education. It has also connected the young users to technology tools including laptops, which have replaced desktop computers in many schools. They come in handy, take less time to operate and are within reach thanks to the One Laptop Per Child association (OLPC), a U.S. based non-profit organization which as part of its program to spread IT awareness donated green laptops across several community schools in Bhutan. The OPLC project also facilitates teacher training and helps them become skilled professionals, thereby opening new opportunities of employment in the country.

To address the shortage of medical specialists in country of 700,000, Bhutan's Ministry of Health launched two telemedicine projects last year, where patients can be treated by international doctors through the internet and videoconferencing. With this innovation, the accessibility and quality of healthcare can be improved by harnessing ICT. Apart from getting advice from international doctors, the step will also enable Bhutanese specialists to attend to patients in other parts of the country.

Internet also made its entry in the banking system with the Bank of Bhutan, the country's oldest bank, launching internet banking in May last year. Finance minister Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu said that the launch of internet banking services was part of the government's policies of bringing reforms in the banking sector where account enquiries, check book requests, internal fund transfers, loan repayments, etc. can all be done through Internet and SMS banking.

Internet penetration in the Bhutanese population is also very encouraging. With expansion in coverage and increase in broadband services, the Bhutanese people are all set to experience a downward revision in internet rates. This is bound to attract more internet users. There were an estimated 30,000 internet subscribers (4% penetration) in the country by the end of 2006 and this is likely to increase. Given its small population, after the expansion, the country will have one of the world's highest international internet bandwidths per internet user, reports Druknet, Bhutan largest Telecom ISP provider.

Regional neighbors like India have been very helpful in developing ICT in Bhutan. The two countries have launched several collective projects in the health and banking systems which are expected to yield positive results. Bhutan recently upgraded its fiber optics network by leasing a new circuit through Bharti Airtel, India. It also upgraded its link with Reliance Globalcom, India. Similarly an internet strategic partnership and alliance with the State Bank of India will link the Bank of Bhutan with 10,000 SBI branches in India.

The government has a much grander vision for the future of IT in Bhutan than merely connecting its agencies and sharing information. With a small, but well-educated population, a high level of English language knowledge, a stable political climate, good telecommunications infrastructure and ample electricity from its hydro power, Bhutan has decided that export of IT services may just be the right sector for the future.

In the meantime, one can marvel at the ease internet has brought in the lives of the people who are now prepared to face the world outside with much more confidence. The old fear of not being able to preserve the country's unique culture and traditions, has been replaced today by the concept of Gross National Happiness, as proposed by King Wangchuck as an alternative to Gross National Product.