Following news earlier this week of major UK development investments in telecoms in Senegal and Tanzania come announcements from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) of support for projects in two Asian countries.
In Bangladesh USTDA has awarded a feasibility study grant to CdNet, a company licensed under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to build, operate and maintain submarine cable systems and services, to expand reliable internet connectivity across Bangladesh through the development of the Bangladesh International Submarine Cable (Bagha-1).
When implemented, the Bagha-1 cable will increase the bandwidth available to internet users in Bangladesh, helping to expand secure high-speed internet connectivity and enhance the resilience of the country’s critical digital infrastructure.
USTDA’s study will assist CdNet in assessing options to identify the most strategic path for deploying a trusted subsea cable system in Bangladesh. CdNet selected Florida-based APTelecom LLC to conduct the study.
In the Philippines meanwhile, USTDA has awarded a grant to high-speed fibre internet service provider Responsible Internet Sustainability Effort, Inc (RISE) for a feasibility study that will help internet service providers in the Philippines to strengthen the delivery of high-quality and resilient internet services, especially in underserved communities.
Specifically, the study will advance RISE’s efforts to expand carrier-neutral internet exchange infrastructure through its GetaFIX business unit, which was established to improve the speed and reliability of the internet in the Philippines for all Filipinos. RISE selected California-based Connectivity Capital LLC to conduct the study.
The expansion of GetaFIX internet exchanges will allow data to travel shorter distances to reach users, enhancing both speed and reliability for improved user experience and increased connectivity between the Philippines’ internet service providers. The project will also drive demand for new data centres, which house internet exchange infrastructure.
This will create new business opportunities for US companies to partner with the Philippines on its digital transition, part of USTDA’s remit. USTDA helps companies create US jobs through the export of US goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies.
Both these agreements were signed at the 6th Indo-Pacific Business Forum held this week in Manila.
