Major effort underway to bring broadband to Tibetan villages 2016-2020

The Tibet Autonomous Region Information Communication Industry "13th Five-year Plan" Development plan was distributed in recent days and it indicates that during the current "13th Five-year Plan "(2016-2020), Tibet will construct high speed communications and information facilities infrastructure which possess smart technology characteristics with high security.

By the end of the"13th Five-year Plan ",  under the provisions of the current policy conditions Tibet will implement broadband coverage in all of  its administrative villages.

Furthermore, small villages with 15 or more households, border villages and relocated villages with over 10 households will have mobile data coverage, and by such means both mobile coverage and poverty alleviation efforts will be realized.

Townships and larger places of residence will be realized total mobile communication networks coverage; broadband coverage for class 3A scenic spots; total coverage along national highways; 75% coverage along provincial roads, and full coverage along focal points on these routes.

At present, there are about 1.87 million internet users in Tibet (59% of the population) and there are 255,000 households with broadband internet. By the end of 2020, 85% of Tibet’s population will become internet users, and households with broadband internet will reach 340,000.

The plan clarifies that during the "13th Five-year Plan" period, Tibet will promote information and communications infrastructure construction, something that will impact economic and social development, and it will upgrade economic and social information system level.