edotco Bangladesh, an integrated telecommunications infrastructure services company, deployed the country’s first ever street furniture in collaboration with the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). The new Smart City solution is the result of a recently signed Public Private Partnership (PPP) to develop Smart City Features on a pilot basis, according to a press release issued on Monday. The deployment of this multipurpose smart lamp pole in (insert location) brings multiple players from the ecosystem together for the first time in a joint effort to provide uninterrupted connectivity to the citizens. The integrated solution will also be able to provide free Wi-Fi services, security surveillance (optional), waste management system through smart bin, real time air quality monitoring as well as serve as digital signage for community messages, all of which come as benefit to the citizens. Dhaka North Mayor Md Atiqul Islam inaugurated the initiative in presence of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Jahurul Haque, Prof Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal and Country Managing Director of edotco Bangladesh, Ricky Steyn. Among others, some high officials from Dhaka north, CEO & Managing Director of Robi Axiata Ltd Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, transmission partner & representatives from Fiber at home and Sheba (ISP) and other telecom operators were present at the inauguration ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony, Atiqul Islam said “I am committed to convert Dhaka into a smart city. We are excited to be able to deploy smart city solutions like these for the first time, giving our people a new and improved platform for social and civil services. If this pilot initiative succeeds, the mayor continued, then we intend to deploy the same similar smart solutions in around 200-250 (approx.) potential locations all over Dhaka North between now and 2021. “I believe that this is an ideal example of public-private initiative as the engagement allows the tower company to sell its tower space to mobile phone operators using Dhaka North’s unused spaces, in return of which citizens will get free services like, free Wi-Fi, light, air quality report, awareness messages, smart bin, etc,” the mayor said. Ricky Steyn, country managing director of edotco Bangladesh said, “We are proud to be able to partner with the Dhaka North in executing its vision to provide uninterrupted connectivity for all. He said edotco has played a key role in developing the telecommunications infrastructure in the country and we intend to continue partnering the nation towards achieving its digital Bangladesh vision. “We are also committed to enabling the nation’s 5G readiness by introducing next generation solutions such as smart city solutions like these,” he added. edotco Bangladesh currently owns and operates over 10,000 telecom towers throughout Bangladesh. The company has been investing and innovating since its commencement to ensure sustainable and sharable infrastructure is in place towards enabling seamless connectivity for all.
