A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here Sunday between the Bangladeshi government and Always on Network (AON), an American based communications service provider, for providing world class internet service in rural and urban areas at an affordable cost, Bangladeshi official news agency BSS reported.

Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology Khan M. Ibrahim Hossain and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AON Quentin H. Breen signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

Under the MoU, the American company will impart training to people, set up internet exchange, expand internet network across the country and introduce e-commerce. The AON will invest 60 million U.S. dollars to implement the projects within the next 10 years.

The CEO of AON said they will provide internet service free of cost to 80,000 primary schools across the country. "Initially, we will bring 85 percent areas of the country under the service and rest 15 percent will be brought under the program later on," he said.

He said in individual level, the monthly cost of the service has been fixed at only 6 dollars and for businessmen at 500 dollars.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commissions had issued license to the American AON company on March 19 this year to set up internet network across the country.

Dr. M. Moyeen Khan, minister for science and information and communication technology (ICT), said under the program the whole country, specially the rural people, will be brought under internet facility in light with the ICT policy of the government.

"The students in school and college levels of the country will be highly benefited under the program," he said.

Source: Xinhua