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Bhutan enters the Information Age - 1995

Bhutan enters the Information Age - 1995

Jacek Pałkiewicz
2006-06-18 21:38:03

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On 2 June 1999, television and the Internet willcome to Bhutan, opening the isolated Himalayan kingdom to theworld outside. Marking the silver jubilee of King Jigme SingyeWangchuk's coronation, the Bhutanese national television channelwill be formally launched. The same day, DRUKNET, the firstInternet service provider, will come on line.

''A new age is beginning for us. The message of the millenniumis dawning on Bhutan,'' exulted Dorji Tshering, a college studentat Sherubtse. Television viewing was forbidden in 1992 when a resolutionadopted by the National Assembly said that a ''ban on dish antennaeshould remain in force until a national television network isestablished."

Kuensel, the kingdom's only newspaper, says that possessionof satellite dish antennaes will be ''largely unnecessary'' oncethe national channel starts telecasting select foreign programs. ''We must first have our own channel before we open up toglobal television. Our people must have a sense of their ownbearing before they are exposed to a hundred channels,'' preachedSonam Tshong, chief of the Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), which willalso look after the TV channel.

According to Tshong, ''millions of dollars'' are being spent onthe project, which will be implemented in phases. But the mainmedia of Bhutan will remain the radio, because of its reach andthe mountainous topography of the country, he explains. Besides the BBS, some foreign radio stations, particularly theBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), have a huge following inBhutan.

Tshong said the national TV channel will reflect Bhutan's richheritage and diverse culture, and carry news and specialprograms on development and environmental issues. He said BBSwas looking at joining with select foreign channels to retelecastprograms that have ''educative and informative value."
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