The Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation has received as grant assistance Broadband Global Area Network System (BGAN), equipment that will enable telecast of news reports from other parts of the country on the same day of coverage.

The equipment worth US$ 86,161, provided by the government of Japan, was handed over to the BBSC office in Thimphu on October 15 by Mr Hisashi Sakata, first secretary, embassy of Japan in New Delhi.

“Bhutan is heading towards democracy and therefore the BGAN equipment could be of help in providing fair and equivalent information to the public,� said Mr Sakata during the handing over ceremony. “With this new system I hope the people of Bhutan receive fair and equivalent information.�

A press release from the Japanese embassy said that the assistance would be greatly conducive to the success of the first democratic election in Bhutan as it would enable BBSC to report essential information that concerns election.

A BBSC official said that the assistance would greatly help in the coverage of the elections. “Most of the news from outside Thimphu is video-taped and sent to Thimphu. Now, with this new system, it will enable us to broadcast news from the districts on the same day with just around a 10-minute delay.�

Mr Sakata also handed over in Thimphu a re-conditioned coaster bus to the principal of the Samthang Vocational Training Institute in Wangduephodrang as assistance from Japan under the Grassroots Project Scheme.

The coaster bus will replace the institute’s existing 22-year old bus and be used for industrial tours and daily transportation of students. The bus was donated by the municipal government of Atami city in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan. Source: Kuenselonline