Dhaka: About 50 crore youths of the emerging Asian markets including Bangladesh will likely to be connected to internet for the first time through mobile phone, says a forecast of Telenor group.
Telenor hopes that within the next three years about 8.50 crore children of those countries will come in contact with internet where they are doing business.
Telenor has given the highest priority of security to the children of its vast Asian market. About 50 crore children live in Asian market. Of it, 5 crore live in Bangladesh, most of whom will come across internet within next few years.
Asian chief of Telenor and Grameen phone chairman Sigvey Brekkey told, about two decades ago Telenor started its journey in Bangladesh on the basis of the very conception that mobile phone for all. Now the market is going towards mobile internet and we have decided to take internet to everyone. Mobile and data connection have brought opportunities for people, business and society particularly for communication with the youth, for learning new things and get services which was beyond thinking few years back.
He told that as the opportunities created by internet equally it brings risks. The research analysis on the use of internet by the minors by Boston Consulting Group reveals that, of the total users, about 8 percent unconsciously take business services, one of per ten might be victim of personal information misuse. Every 1 of 5 is viewing harmful contents and half of the minors might be the victims of on-line threat.
Director of Telenor Corporate Responsibility Ola Jo Tandrey told, while connecting Asia with internet it shall have to be done with much safety measure and with responsibility. Specially, for the first internet user and for the children.
The group has meanwhile earned sufficient experience from the successful program carried among the children in Norway, Malaysia, Serbia, Sweden and Montenegro.
With the experience achieved in these countries, Telenor group wants to implement in other countries particularly in Asia.
Telenor group is the first operator who has invented the internet filter in cooperation with Interpol regarding sexual repression on children. Telenor group has set up this filter in Bangladesh, Pakistan and with all European companies except one. The other companies of Asia are now working in this setting of filter.
Very recently Telenor and Grameen phone in collaboration with development agency BRAC have announced the free use of internet facilities for 21 lakh hours. In 250 schools across the country the students will get the opportunity of free use of internet conducted by BRAC and will also come to know how to use it safely and efficiently.
Tandrey told that if in this way the use of internet is taught to the children then they will learn how to use it safely and risk will minimize and it will be necessary for learning if facilities increase.
Sigvey Brekkey informed that we are committed to reach internet to all of Asia and the positive increase of data service proves that the ICT products, concerned regularatory organizations are working with the demand of the subscribers. Cheap and dependable internet connectivity means that we are going forward one step further. END.
BDST: 1658 HRS, FEB 18, 2014
